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Harmanpreet Singh-led India are eyeing a direct qualification for the Hockey World Cup. (AFP Photo)
Five nationwide groups — Ireland, the Netherlands, India, Spain and Australia – will take part within the India leg of the Pro League, going through one another as soon as in Bhubaneswar and as soon as in Rourkela.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh needs the younger Indian hockey gamers to get accustomed to the enjoying kinds of the most effective groups on this planet through the FIH Pro League, and hoped the nation would seal a direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a title-winning run in Bhubaneswar.
The Indian males’s hockey staff arrived right here on Monday to take part within the Pro League scheduled on the Kalinga Hockey Stadium from February 10 to 16 and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from February 19 to 25.
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India narrowly missed out on a podium end within the earlier season, ending fourth behind the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Belgium.
“We have just come back from a successful tour in South Africa where we played against France, South Africa, and the Netherlands to begin the Pro League in the best shape possible,” Harmanpreet mentioned in a Hockey India (HI) launch.
“A few young players have been included in the squad this time and this will be a great opportunity for them to familiarise themselves with the play style of some of the best teams in the world.”
Five nationwide groups — Ireland, the Netherlands, India, Spain and Australia – will take part within the India leg of the Pro League, going through one another as soon as in Bhubaneswar and as soon as in Rourkela.
“We are taking the Pro League very seriously as winning it would not only mean direct qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 but these games will also be crucial in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics,” Harmanpreet mentioned.
India will tackle Spain of their first match of the season on February 10, adopted by a conflict with the best-ranked staff on this planet, the Netherlands, on February 11.
After a short break, the hosts will tackle Australia on February 15, earlier than they face Ireland within the final match of the Bhubaneswar leg on February 16.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed – PTI)
Source: www.news18.com
