The two sport stars played in China from October 30 to November 12 where they competed against China, Jiangsu, Great Britain and Germany.

Wilson said this allowed them to get a taste of what the international competition was like and where they sat against the rest of the world.

“It was a good experience in another country and to get the feel of an elite team environment,” Wilson said.

Wilson is currently in the national development squad. She said that was her ultimate goal for the year.

“Hopefully I’ll be in contention for the national squad (senior) within the next two to three years,” she said.

The squad includes players identified as potential Olympic and international players.

According to Ryde Hunters Hill District Hockey Club director of coaching Tim Collier, Wilson had been a rising star in hockey and the China tour was an amazing experience for her to play the quality of opposition.

Collier was Wilson’s coach last year when the Ryde women won their premier league premiership.

“I have been pretty close to her journey.

“Abby is only 20 so being in the development squad this year is a big deal, it puts her well on the path to reach her goal of representing the Hockeyroos and potentially the Tokyo Olympics,” he said.

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Collier said the way the selection worked, 27 athletes were chosen each year in the Hockeyroos senior national squad, another 27 were picked for the national development squad (Wilson’s team) and there were 27 selected in the U21s national junior squad.

“This is the Hockey Australia development pathway,” he said.

Now that Wilson is back home she will set off with Lithgow’s Andrea Gillard to New Zealand with the Australian junior U21’s team.

“I’m going on a junior Aussie tour from November 26 to December 3 where I’ll play three games against the Kiwis,” Wilson said.

Coach Collier said it was a busy time for Wilson but an amazing opportunity for her to impress national selectors just over 18 months out from the Olympics.

“It caps off a big year for Abby who was also captain of the NSW U21 side.

“She is a dynamic striker and was the leading goal-scorer in the Sydney Premier League competition this year and a player we have high hopes for,” Collier said.

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