Kolkata: The Indian men’s hockey team will open their World Cup on August 15 against Wales before taking on England on August 17. They will play their last Group D match against Pakistan on August 19, according to the schedule released by the FIH on Wednesday.Pakistan have qualified for the World Cup after being knocked out in 2023, and a clash between the two subcontinental rivals is always a potential nut. The two teams have met five times in the World Cup so far, with India winning three times, including a famous 2-1 victory in the 1975 final.Speaking about the group and the Pakistan match in particular, India coach Craig Fulton said: “We are happy with our draw in Pool D. England, Pakistan and Wales are a good group and we respect all three teams. The match against Pakistan will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament and we are looking forward to it.”Meanwhile, the women’s team will begin their campaign against China on August 16. The Sjoerd Marijne-led team will then face South Africa on 18 August before their final group game against England two days later on 20 August.
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Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as the golden era of Indian cricket It promises to be a tough group for the women’s team given how England and China have fared against them recently and they will need to play out of their skins to ensure they progress to the knockout stages.“It’s a very competitive and balanced pool. There are teams like England and China that bring different styles and a lot of experience, while the South African women’s national field hockey team is always unpredictable and dangerous at times,” Marijne said in a statement.“However, for us it’s not about a draw – it’s about how we show up. At the World Cup, every match demands the best,” added the Dutch coach.The women’s team will go on tours to the USA and Argentina and play practice matches in Germany, in addition to the Nations Cup in New Zealand.Similarly, the men’s team will also continue to play abroad ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games. “We’ll be a lot further away from home. We’ll be playing in Malaysia against New Zealand and Australia and then we’ll travel to Europe for the Pro League,” Fulton said earlier.India WC Group Matches: Men: vs. Wales 15 August, vs. England August 17, vs. Pakistan on August 19; Women: vs. China August 16, vs. South Africa August 18, vs. England 20 August.
