India to host New Zealand and Spain in opening of FIH 2022/23 professional hockey league

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India]March 24 (ANI): India’s men’s hockey team will launch its FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 campaign against New Zealand and Spain when the International Ice Hockey Federation (FIH) announced its fourth tournament schedule on Thursday.

India will host New Zealand and Spain in the opening tournament from October 28 to November 6 later this year.

The season, which will run from October 28, 2022 to July 5, 2023, will be divided into a series of dates agreed by all parties to assist in the planning of international and domestic competitions, which will be held “mini-tournaments”. will play when several teams come together in one place to hold two matches against each other.

This move will have a serious positive impact on the well-being of players and the environment, thanks to a significant reduction in the number of trips required for each team and officials. Another great advantage of this revised format is that it increases the number of dates available for athletes to participate in their domestic leagues and club competitions.

In the first match on October 28, the Indian national team will play against New Zealand, on October 30 – in the second match with Spain. They will play their return matches against New Zealand and Spain on November 4 and 6, respectively. Both guests New Zealand and Spain will also play double headers against each other on October 29 and November 5. Sharing his thoughts on the FIH Pro League 2022/23 schedule, India’s men’s ice hockey head coach Graham Reed said: “It’s interesting to look at today’s published 22-23 professional league schedule. As for our draw, it is well distributed and gives us the opportunity to train before the 2023 World Cup. “In March 2023, India will play at home with Germany and Australia. On March 10, they will meet Germany, and after a day break in their first match. The return match against Germany and Australia will take place on March 13 and 15. Germany and Australia will also play against each other in India.

In the Olympic cycle, which seems to be an active Olympic cycle, India will go on a tour of Europe in May and June 2023 for away matches with teams such as reigning Olympic champions Belgium (May 26 and June 2), Great Britain (27 May and June 3). ), The Netherlands (7 and 10 June) and Argentina (8 and 11 June). Reid said that using multiple teams in one place is a good development. “FIH is using the experience of using multiple teams in one place this year to give a more traditional sense of the tournament. I think it’s a good development. It will also provide a different tactical training between games, where traditionally games against the same team go backwards, ”he said. (ANI)