15th edition of FIH Men’s World Cup to be held India One of the biggest hockey events of the year will take place in January 2023 along with the Asian Games in China.
With the clock ticking for the mega event to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29, Indian fans are eagerly waiting for it.
With the men’s team ending a four-decade-long wait for an Olympic medal by winning a bronze in Tokyo in 2021, hockey fans are hoping the Indian team ends another embarrassing drought – at 47 years, a long Waiting for more medals than in the Olympics – in the men’s World Cup.
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In 1975, India won its first and so far only Hockey World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur, defeating Pakistan 2–1 in the final. Since that ill-fated third edition of the quadrangular mega event, India have failed to even reach the semi-finals.
The upcoming World Cup is important for India as an organiser, as it is the first mega event to be hosted after the pandemic and its successful conduct will boost the country’s morale for other major events later in the year.
With the World Cup medal drought inching closer to half a century, hockey fans feel India has the best chance to end it as the team has performed brilliantly over the years, winning a bronze medal in Tokyo and the FIH Secured third place. Pro League.
Under the tutelage of head coach Graham Reid, the team has improved greatly and performed very well over the past few seasons, recording wins against the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, world champions Belgium and Rio Olympic gold medalists Argentina. Winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022.
There were a few setbacks in the Asian Champions Trophy last year when they had to settle for a bronze medal and also in the Asia Cup 2022 in Jakarta where the team had to settle for bronze.
India will host the event for the fourth time after 1982 (Bombay), 2010 (New Delhi) and 2018 (Bhubaneswar). This will be the second consecutive edition that India will host and the team’s recent success has fueled hopes that the drought will end this time around.
However, the expectations of the fans have also doubled the pressure on the team and Dutch drag-flick specialist Bram Loomans feels the hosts will do well if they can handle the added pressure.
“I think if India can handle huge pressure, and if the players don’t get too excited, then they have a good chance to win. India have got good strikers, corner takers and good goalkeepers. So their Has all the ingredients to go far,” the 1998 World Cup winner said recently.
“If he gets too excited or emotional, things can be different. But if he can keep his focus, he is one of the biggest candidates along with Australia. The Netherlands are always good too.”
“They have improved a lot in the last few tournaments, so I expect them to do well. You also have Belgium, Argentina and England who are doing well. So, there are at least six-seven teams who are at the top. Maybe. It’ll be very interesting because it’s tough and that’s what hockey needs,” Lomans said.
While Indian fans will be watching the players’ every move with a lot of anticipation, world No. 1 Australia, reigning World Cup and Olympic Games winners Belgium and the Netherlands, apart from the hosts, are the favorites for medals.
In total, 16 teams – Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, England, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, South Korea and Wales – will be fielding in the mega. events.
The teams are divided into four groups of four teams each for the preliminary stage, which consists of a round-robin competition in the groups.
Ranked 5th in the FIH World Rankings, India have been placed in Group D for the preliminary stage along with England, Spain and Wales, the hosts will open their campaign against Spain on January 13 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
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Group A consists of Australia, Argentina, France and South Africa, while Group B consists of Belgium, Germany, South Korea and 2018 Asian Games winners Japan. Group C includes Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia and Chile.
At the end of the preliminary stage, the four group toppers will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed teams in each group will compete in a knock-out crossover stage, at the end of which four teams will qualify for the quarter-finals. ,
The quarter-finals will be played on January 24 and 25, while the semi-finals will be held on January 27. The final will be played on January 29.
While local fans will be eyeing the Indian team, experts have placed their bets on defending champions Belgium, who are also Olympic gold medalists, and world No.1 Australia.
Belgium has a great squad with many experienced players. They are currently ranked second behind Australia in the world rankings, and have done very well in the last 5-6 years.
Three-time world champions Australia, with the likes of Blake Gowers, Jeremy Hayward, Edward Ockenden and Edward Ockenden, are joint favorites for the experts and will be hoping to win their fourth title and join Pakistan as the most successful team. in the World Cup.
The Netherlands also have a good chance of winning their fourth title, while Germany are the dark horse in the competition, although they are undergoing a rebuilding phase and will need to be at their consistent best to get the better of the likes of Belgium. Australia.
This is the first World Cup for men after the COVID-19 pandemic and FIH is also looking forward to it as it hopes to ride on its success to avoid financial crunch due to the pandemic.
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