India will begin a crucial phase of their preparations for the FIH Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games when they take on hosts the Netherlands in the European leg of the FIH Pro League on Sunday.
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Led by Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian team will use the high-profile fixtures against top-ranked opponents to assess combinations and fine-tune strategies ahead of the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30 and the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
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India will face the Netherlands twice during the tour and also take on Germany before travelling to London for matches against Pakistan and England.
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Head coach Craig Fulton described the European leg as a key part of India’s World Cup build-up.
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“This Pro League block is a crucial part of our World Cup preparation. Playing in the Netherlands and England against top-ranked opposition is exactly the test we need at this stage,” Fulton said.
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“These fixtures give us the opportunity to test our different combinations. Our focus is simple — press well, be dangerous on the counter, and be consistent across all matches.”
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The Dutch leg assumes added significance as it will also familiarise the players with conditions they are likely to encounter during the World Cup.
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India currently sit eighth in the nine-team Pro League standings with four points from eight matches, ahead of only Pakistan. Belgium lead the table with 22 points, followed by Australia and Argentina.
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Manpreet eyes historic milestone
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The opening match against the Netherlands will also be a memorable occasion for veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh, who is set to equal the Indian record of 412 international appearances held by former captain and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey.
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Tirkey hailed the achievement, saying Manpreet had been the heartbeat of India’s midfield through some of the team’s most defining moments, including the historic bronze medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics.
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For India, the European tour offers more than just Pro League points. With the World Cup and Asian Games looming, it is an opportunity to measure themselves against elite opposition and sharpen their preparations for the challenges ahead.
