Paumen (pictured top), also a Beijing 2008 champion, and Lammers formed part of the Netherlands squad that secured a 2-0 win over Argentina to take gold at London 2012 and became only the second team, after the Australia side of the late 1990s, to win back-to-back Olympic titles.

The silver medallists' star playmaker Luciana Aymar, who also has a silver from Sydney 2000 and two bronzes from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 to her name, makes it onto the shortlist again – she is the only athlete in history to receive the FIH Player of the Year award seven times.

Britain's Crista Cullen, who won the bronze medal on home turf at last summer's Games, and New Zealand's Kayla Sharland, fourth place finisher at London 2012, make up the finalists for the award, which will be handed out at the Rabobank Hockey World League in Rotterdam later this week.


The Young Player of the Year shortlist is made up of Belgian Erica Coppey, South Korea's Cheon Eun-Bi, Anna Flanagan of Australia, Argentina's Florencia Habif and New Zealand's Stacey Michelsen – all competed at the London 2012 Olympics.

The 2012 Men's Player of the Year, which was presented at the 2012 Champions Trophy in Melbourne, went to Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Moritz Fürste of Germany.

His London 2012 teammate Florian Fuchs took home the Young Player of the Year award.

The women's 2012 announcement is being made now as the Hockey World League semi-finals are the first major event since the Olympics to present the award to the winners.

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