The Indian men’s hockey team will look to kick-start their World Cup preparations in right earnest when it takes on New Zealand in its opening game of the FIH Pro League’s new season at the Kalinga Stadium here on Friday. After New Zealand, the Indians will take on Spain in their next game on Sunday, followed by return fixtures against New Zealand on November 4 and Spain on November 6.
“It has been a busy last couple of weeks preparing for the four games we will play in the Pro League and the five-matches against Australia in Adelaide in a Test Series next month,” India’s chief coach Graham Reid said. “All these matches are part of our preparations for the World Cup. Our goal of course is to play our best hockey but we want to be better in our attacking, we want to try a few new things in the way we execute our attack. We are looking forward to these games.” Captain for the upcoming matches, Harmanpreet Singh, said India would look to replicate their last season’s performance in the new one.
India finished a creditable third in the last season of FIH Pro League. “Last season went very well for us and the aim is to pick up from where we left in the previous season,” said Harmanpreet, the top-scorer of the previous season.
