Germany's Moritz Fürste, Australian Liam De Young, Marsha Cox of South Africa and England's Anne Panter are the four players who have been chosen after 92 per cent of athletes taking part in this year's World Cup in The Hague voted in elections.

The move represents the first time that players were permitted to elect individuals to the Athletes' Committee, which had its members appointed by the FIH in the past.

Earlier this year, 21 candidates were nominated for the positions after all of the FIH's national associations were allowed to put forward their favoured candidate.

"The new election process is part of our drive to better involve athletes in the growth of hockey," said FIH President, Leandro Negre.

"Our sport is growing with strong momentum at the moment and it is critical that we keep athletes close to our decision making.

"We are delighted with the outcome of this election and look forward to working more closely with Anne, Liam, Marsha and Moritz."

De Young, who is participating in his fourth World Cup this year and is part of the Australian team defending their men's title from Delhi in 2010, is the only one of the four who has been part of the Athletes' Committee before.

Former world player of the year Fürste is currently out of action due to injury and is a double Olympic champion, as well as being part of the Germany team that were crowned men's world champions in 2006.

Currently out injured, German Moritz Fürste has been elected by fellow players to the FIH Athletes' Committee ©Bongarts/Getty Images



South African captain Cox is also competing in her fourth World Cup and has amassed more than 330 international caps, appearing at three Olympic Games.

Panter retired earlier this year after a career that saw her represent Great Britain 108 times, highlighted by a bronze medal at London 2012, while she also has two European bronze from her time with England.

"Of 432 competing World Cup athletes, 92 per cent have voted in the inaugural FIH Athletes' Committee elections," said Michael Green, who was renewed as chairman of the FIH Athletes' Committee for another two years.

"This shows just how important the FIH Athletes' Committee is to our current players and how involved they want to be with the FIH.

"I am confident the four that have been elected in The Hague will be superb ambassadors and important contributors as we move forward."

The Athletes' Committee is designed to act as a liaison between the FIH and the athletes and ensure they have a voice in the decision-making process.

Following the reappointment of Green and the election of the four players in The Hague, who will take up their mandate in March 2015, the FIH says it will appoint three more members to complete the Committee at its Congress in Marrakech, Morocco, scheduled for early November.

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