Harmanpreet led squad defeated defending champions Japan by 5-1 and now has confirmed a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last edition’s silver medallist India, the highest-ranked team in the tournament at world number seven, was no match to world number China, who were the bronze medallist in 2018 in Jakarta.
On September 27, India will play Singapore in the prestigious event’s opening match.
India (2771) are back into the top-3, after more than year since dropping out in May 2022. The elevation happened due to their undefeated run in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in Chennai last month.
The seventh edition of the tournament will be a joint venture between Hockey India and the Government of Jharkhand.
The two Asian powerhouses met in Jakarta during the 2022 Asia Cup.
Solidifying Men in Blue’s position at the top of the points table and guaranteeing them a semifinal spot.
India’s opening game on Thursday against China saw the hosts winning 7-2, with six of the goals resulting through the corner.
From 3 to 12 August, the tournament will feature the continent’s best six nations, including Pakistan.
The German tour is set to help the Indian team prepare for the Asian Games, which is also a qualification event for next year’s Paris Olympics.
Pakistan could push India to the second spot in Pool A if they beat Japan in their last group match by more than 14 goals.
The 24-member team, announced on Monday, features goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak. He returns to the squad after missing the home matches due to his wedding.
Ahead of India’s crucial crossover match against New Zealand on Sunday, Hockey India in a statement announced the replacement of midfielder Hardik who sustained the during India’s match against England on January 15.
The other venue for the ongoing World Cup, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, has no matches scheduled for today.
The Savita Punia-led side will play four matches against hosts South Africa in Cape Town before locking horns with the Dutch side in three matches from January 23.
Hockey World Cup 2023 Schedule: The match will be played at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, which will also host the championship tournament. There are 16 teams competing in the Hockey World Cup.
India has only won the continental championship once, in 1975, and will want to change their luck as hosts this season.
Hockey Haryana will face the Hockey Association Of Odisha in the first Semi-Final, while Hockey Jharkhand will take on Hockey Madhya Pradesh in the second Semi-Final, as per Hockey India (HI).
The Indian team grouped in pool D along with England, Spain and Wales will begin their campaign on 13th January 2023 in the newly built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
