A galaxy of hockey stars have reached Odisha, for the mega hockey extravaganza, essentially the most prestigious match of the 12 months — the fifteenth FIH Men’s World Cup 2023, to be performed in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, from January 13-29.
For the primary time, the FIH Men’s World Cup will likely be hosted by a nation twice in a row because the 2018 version was hosted in Bhubaneswar with Belgium beating the Netherlands to win their maiden title.
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As the 16 finest groups from the world over gear up for the distinguished occasion, right here’s a take a look at a few of the gamers to be careful for on the mega occasion:
PR Sreejesh (India)
PR Sreejesh, the veteran Indian goalkeeper, has performed a vital function in India’s efficiency. He was additionally adjudged FIH Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. He has cemented his tempo among the many world’s finest goalkeepers for his high quality instincts that make him efficient in penalty shoot-out conditions.
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sreejesh saved a penalty nook in the previous couple of seconds within the bronze medal match in opposition to Germany as India ended a four-decade drought for an Olympic medal. There are many extra cases the place the star goalie has been an important cog in India’s success.
Sreejesh’s presence as a goalkeeper in addition to a mentor, helped the group attain the third spot in FIH World Rankings, which is the nation’s best-ever standing.
The presence of a triple Olympian, who has over 240 worldwide appearances, will likely be a serious enhance for the Indian aspect within the World Cup 2023. This will most likely be Sreejesh’s final World Cup, it might be thrilling to observe the wall of Indian hockey showcasing his most interesting expertise in entrance of house followers.
Harmanpreet Singh (India)
The main drag-flicker of the group, Harmanpreet Singh is touted as an important cog in Indian hockey’s resurgence lately. The penalty nook specialist’s highly effective flicks, alongside together with his world-class defence have earned Harmanpreet loads of recognition.
Harmanpreet performed a vital function in India’s historic bronze medal win on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He completed because the nation’s high scorer in Tokyo Olympics with six targets to his kitty. It was Harmanpreet who pulled India stage with Germany within the bronze medal match, earlier than Rupinder Pal Singh and Simranjeet Singh’s targets guided India to their twelfth medal on the Olympics.
Akashdeep Singh (India)
Since making his debut in 2012, Akashdeep Singh has been India’s goal-scoring machine. Besides Sreejesh and Harmanpreet, he’s the one participant to have over 200 worldwide caps. He has over 80 worldwide targets below his belt. He would be the most skilled ahead within the Indian lineup and rather a lot will depend upon him to marshal the Indian ahead line.
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In the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup in Hague, the 28-year-old was India’s high scorer with 5 targets to his title. After lacking the bus to Tokyo in 2020 as a consequence of his dipping kind, Akashdeep has added numerous dimensions to his good ability units.
In the five-match Test in opposition to Australia in 2022, Akashdeep scored a hat-trick in India’s 5-4 defeat within the opening match and a profitable objective within the third match that helped India break a 12-match winless streak in opposition to the world No. 1 Australian aspect.
Vivek Sagar Prasad (India)
Vivek Sagar Prasad has been on the forefront of the group at completely different levels. The midfielder was part of the senior squad that received the bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 and had additionally led the U-21 group to a third-place end within the seventh version of the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.
Making his return to the squad after lacking out pm the latest tour of Australia and the FIH Hockey Pro League as a consequence of an ankle damage, the promising teen will show to be a serious menace to the opposition group together with his defence-splitting passes.
Eddie Ockenden (Australia)
The midfielder was additionally a part of the bronze-winning Australian group on the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Ockenden not simply helped out the midfielders and forwards in creating goal-scoring alternatives but additionally scored 72 worldwide targets. He was a part of the nationwide group that received the 2010 World Cup and 2014 World Cup at New Delhi and The Hague respectively.
Ockenden has made as many as 9 Champions Trophy appearances for Australia and helped his group clinch the gold medal twice in 2009 and 2011.
The 25-year-old holds huge expertise as he has performed essentially the most variety of internationals on the senior stage for Australia. Ockenden has been featured in 4 consecutive Olympics, which embody a silver (2020) and two bronze medals (2008, 2012).
Alexander Hendrickx (Belgium)
Belgium’s star defender Alexander Hendrickx performed a vital function in taking Belgium to the nation’s first-ever Olympic title in hockey at Tokyo 2020. He scored 14 targets and end the marketing campaign because the match’s high scorer.
He was named tied with Australia’s Grovers Blake because the match’s highest goal-scorer within the 2018 World Cup with seven targets below his belt. The 29-year-old king of drag-flick has 150 senior worldwide appearances and has scored 89 targets thus far.
Mats Grambusch (Germany)
The 30-year-old midfielder has performed a complete of 161 matches and scored 51 targets. Grambusch will likely be featured in his third World Cup. He additionally received Olympic bronze in Rio, and some European Championships medals, however was not but on the rostrum on the Worlds. Make it a 3rd time a appeal the 30-year-old captain will likely be aiming to be on the rostrum in India.
Thierry Brinkman (Netherlands)
Thierry Brinkman has 140 caps to his title. He has scored 55 targets thus far for the Dutch aspect. Brinkman was additionally named within the 2018 World Cup squad and had featured in each match. Moreover, he scored in each single match he performed within the 2018 version however the Netherlands, nonetheless, misplaced to Belgium within the ultimate. The 27-year-old striker could be trying to full what was left unfinished in 2018.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated news company feed)
