Bhubaneswar: The Indian men’s hockey team arrived in Bhubaneswar on Monday, marking the beginning of their campaign in the FIH Pro League 2023/24. Eager to improve upon their fourth-place finish in the previous season, the team is set to showcase their prowess in a series of high-stakes matches.
The FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Men) is scheduled to unfold at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium from February 10 to 16. Subsequently, the league will shift to the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, where the action will continue from February 19 to 25.
In this edition of the FIH Pro League, five national teams – Ireland, The Netherlands, India, Spain, and Australia – will participate in the India leg, engaging in competitive encounters in both Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
India is poised to face Max Caldas’s Spain in their season opener on February 10, followed by a challenging clash against the top-ranked team in the world, the Netherlands, on February 11. After a brief interval, they will square off against Australia on February 15, culminating the Bhubaneswar leg with a match against Ireland on February 16.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh shed light on the team’s preparations, stating, “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. A few young players have been included in the squad this time, and this will be a great opportunity for them to familiarize themselves with the play style of some of the best teams in the world.”
He emphasized the team’s serious approach towards the Pro League, citing its significance in terms of direct qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 and its crucial role in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Indian squad aims to make a lasting impact on the FIH Pro League, eyeing both short-term victories and long-term goals on the international stage.