Indian Women’s Hockey Team Prepares for Tour in Australia

New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) The Indian women’s hockey team is ready to kick off an exhilarating tour of Australia for a series of five matches scheduled from April 26 to May 4. The series will commence with two games against Australia A, followed by three matches against the senior Australian women's team.

The tour will start with consecutive matches against Australia A on April 26 and 27, leading into three high-stakes encounters against the world No. 5-ranked Hockeyroos on May 1, 3, and 4. All games are set to take place at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

Currently positioned ninth in the FIH World Rankings, the Indian squad aims to leverage their recent momentum and continue delivering strong performances on the global stage. This tour will be essential preparation in advance of their European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25, which kicks off in June.

Entering the series on a positive note, India recently showcased a spirited performance against the world No. 1 Netherlands, achieving a 2-2 draw and securing a bonus point in a thrilling shootout in Bhubaneswar—a confident conclusion to their home leg of the Pro League.

India can also draw confidence from their recent victory against Australia. In their latest matchup during the FIH Pro League 2023-24, India claimed a 1-0 win.

Notably, they made history at the Tokyo Olympics 2021, defeating the three-time Olympic champions 1-0 in the semifinals to advance to the bronze medal match. Although they faced a narrow defeat in the 2022 Commonwealth Games semifinal that ended in a 1-1 draw during regulation, Australia triumphed in the shootout.

Historically, Australia has the advantage, winning 10 out of the 16 matches played between the two teams since 2013. India has secured three wins, while three matches ended in draws.

Regarding the tour, Harendra Singh, Head Coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, stated, “This tour is crucial for our preparations for the European leg of the FIH Pro League. Competing against a formidable team like Australia will challenge our players and provide valuable insights into our current standing. We’ve demonstrated our ability to rise to the occasion, as seen in our recent match against the Netherlands, and we aim to build on that momentum.”

“Our encounters with Australia have always been fiercely contested, and while they have historically had the edge, we’ve proven in recent years that we can compete closely with them. The team is highly motivated and diligently working in camp to refine key aspects of our game before heading to Perth,” he added.

In preparation for the tour, the Indian players are currently participating in the ongoing Senior Women’s National Coaching Camp at SAI, Bengaluru, focusing on enhancing strategies and improving on-field synergy.