The Indian women’s hockey team left for Europe on Wednesday to begin the final leg of its preparations for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, with two practice matches against Germany lined up before the tournament begins next month.
The World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. India will first travel to Frankfurt, where the team will play Germany on July 31 and August 1 as part of its build-up to the tournament.
The squad will then head to Amsterdam on August 2 to continue its preparations before opening its campaign against China on August 16. India are placed in Pool D alongside China, South Africa and England.
Captain Salima Tete said the team was confident after an intensive training block and hoped to carry that momentum into the World Cup.
“We’ve had a good training block, and now it’s about carrying that momentum into the practice matches and then the World Cup. Facing China in our opening game will be an important test, and we want to start the tournament on a positive note. As a team, we are determined to give our best and make the country proud,” Salima said.
The warm-up fixtures against Germany are expected to help India acclimatise to European conditions and finalise combinations ahead of the showpiece event.
Meanwhile, the Indian men’s hockey team recently unveiled its new jersey ahead of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, which will also be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30. India qualified for the tournament by winning the Men’s Asia Cup on home soil last year.
(ANI)
