England Women's Hockey Team Touches Down in Bhubaneswar for FIH Pro League Matches

Key Takeaways

England women's hockey team arrives in Bhubaneswar.
Competing in FIH Pro League 2024/25 matches.
Facing tough opponents: India and Netherlands.
Current record: 1 win, 3 losses.
Excitement among players and coach for upcoming matches.

Bhubaneswar, Feb 9 (NationPress) The England women’s hockey team has landed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Sunday, gearing up for the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 matches in India.

Ranked World No. 7, the team is set to compete against the host nation, India, and the reigning World No. 1 team, Netherlands, during the matches scheduled from February 15 to 25.

With a current record of one victory and three defeats, England’s FIH Pro League journey has been challenging, and they aim to improve their standings against tough competitors.

Forward Darcy Bourne expressed her enthusiasm upon their arrival, stating, “We are very excited to be in India, especially after the Hockey India League. The atmosphere here is expected to be incredible. This is my first visit to India, and the energy surrounding hockey is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, which makes me very eager for the matches.”

Despite recent struggles at the World Cups, England remains the current Commonwealth champions, having clinched the gold medal in 2022. With several prominent players in the lineup, England is a formidable contender this year. Head coach David Ralph also shared his excitement, stating, "We anticipate challenging matches, but we’re looking forward to it. Playing in front of the Indian audience is one of the greatest experiences in hockey.”

As of now, China leads the standings with 13 points from seven matches, followed closely by Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, and Argentina rounding out the top five. The Indian women's team is set to kick off their FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 campaign against England shortly.