The Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC) held their Annual Meeting in Wellington in New Zealand during the recent Women's World Floorball Championship qualification event.

Nine countries were represented at the meeting as they discussed future regional competitions, membership and development of the sport in the area.

The Asia Oceania region has shown strong growth over recent years, with a steady increase in the number of member countries.

With the membership of China and Hong Kong confirmed by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) central board in 2016, both these countries were also accepted to the AOFC, bringing the current number of members to 15.

Floorball has successfully been a part of the South East Asia Games in the past and there is an opportunity for it to be part of many other multi-sport events in Asia.

The AOFC Competition committee is working to secure participation once again in the South East Asia Games, but also in both the Asian Games and Asian Indoor Games.

They will also introduce a new tournament of their own, the AOFC Cup, which will be held in Thailand for the first time in June.

The hosts for future World Floorball Championships qualification events was also discussed during the meeting.

A provisional plan saw the 2018 men's tournament go to South Korea while the women's competition in 2019 is due to be held in one of Thailand, the Philippines or China with a confirmed host to be announced at a later date.

Referee, coaching and development seminars are also planned over the coming year, as well as the consideration of the future employment of a full-time development officer.

It was also announced that Yoshino Takanobu will be awarded with the IFF Service Award.

Takanobu was head coach of the Japanese women's team that competed at the Open European Championships in 1995.

Twenty-two years later, he is still at the helm, steering his team to win the latest women's World Floorball Championships qualification event and qualify for the tournament later this year.

The award will be presented during the event in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava in December.

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Asia Oceania Floorball holds annual meeting in Wellington - Insidethegames.biz