Soledad Garcia (right photo) was awarded the World Hockey Young Women�s Player of the Year 2004 and Luciana Aymar (left photo) the World Hockey Women�s Player of the Year 2004.

With nearly 50% of all the votes cast, Soledad Garcia was the overwhelming choice of the players in the Young Player category. Though still only 23 years old, Soledad Garcia has continually caught the eye on the international stage, since winning her first Young Player of the Year award in 2002. She has played hockey since she was six years old and was also part of the �Leonas� (Argentina) team which won bronze at the Athens Olympics, and gold at the 2002 Hockey World Cup in Perth. Soledad wins her second WorldHockey Young Player of the Year award, having already been selected in 2002.

A similar majority of 50% of all the votes cast shows the domination on the world stage of Luciana Aymar. Luciana has been a key figure in "Las Leonas" team at the above events, also winning silver at the previous Olympic Games in Sydney. Like Soledad, this is also Luciana�s second WorldHockey Player of the Year Award, following her first in 2001.

FIH Vice President, Tony von Ondarza, commented, "The international players� choices of Soledad Garcia and Luciana Aymar are a tribute to Argentina�s passion for hockey which we have seen demonstrated so clearly by the sell-out crowds here at the BDO Hockey Champions Trophy at the Jockey Club in Rosario."

Nominations and presentations for the World Hockey Men�s Player of the Year will take place in December, at the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy, Men in Lahore.