If you’re not a hockey fan yet, but you love watching an action-packed game, you need to be one now. The semi-finals of the World Hockey League (both men’s and women’s competitions) are just around the corner.
The World Hockey League is an international field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation. Importantly, this competition decides which teams get to qualify for the Hockey World Cup as well as the Olympics.
The competition
Held every two years, the World Hockey League is meant to replace the qualifying tournaments for the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup and is held over four rounds. The competition is open to all IHF members, but higher ranked teams are given byes. The first edition was held in the 2012-13 season – the final was held in New Delhi where a dominant Netherlands drove in seven goals past New Zealand to take the trophy home.
This year, the Indian men’s team faces a tough prospect in their semi-final round, scheduled to start on June 20 at Antwerp, Belgium. They are up against archrivals Pakistan, ranked fifth in the world along with favourites Australia (ranked second). The other teams in their pool are Poland and France. It promises to be a tough outing for the men, but after a promising 2014 and a commendable third-place finish in the recently-held Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, they’ll be more than up for it.
All eyes on the women's team
It is on the women’s team though that all eyes will be on, after some impressive recent performances.
Ranked 12th in the world, the team finished seventh in the recently held Hawke’s Bay Cup held in New Zealand. Despite the position, the women did not disgrace themselves at all – in fact, they held the Australians (who are currently ranked second in the world) to a gritty scoreless draw and did one better by defeating a higher-ranked Japan 3-2. Despite losses to China and USA, the team stayed competitive throughout.
It’s also pertinent to keep in mind that unlike the men’s team, the women’s team were not given a direct bye to the semis and had to fight it out with other teams in Round 3, played in March this year. Their dominance was evident – they finished on top of their group, scoring 21 goals without conceding even one.
Hence, there seems to be an air of quiet determination around the team in the build-up to the semi-finals. Anuradha Devi, a forward in the team, has talked about how the team is ‘a more confident bunch under the new coach Mathias Ahrens’. On his part, Ahrens is certain that the team can qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The path to glory
In the 2012-2013 edition, the Indian men’s team put up s spirited display in the final round, defeating Germany in a close-fought game, only to be blanked by Australia 7-2 in the quarterfinals.
Though India are guaranteed a place in the finals of account of being the hosts, they will want to qualify of their own accord. On that account, the matches against Australia and Pakistan will be keenly anticipated. India should also be careful to guard against complacency when they take on other lower-ranked teams in their group, France and Poland.
The woman have no such luck – with the final of the women’s edition taking place in Argentina, the team will have to battle its way out of a tough group. With the exception of Poland, all the other teams in their group (Australia, New Zealand and Belgium) are ranked higher.
The first match against Belgium will set the pace. India will be realistically looking to finish fourth, as this will be enough to clinch qualification. After that, it’s just a matter of one good game or two to sail through.
Both the men and women’s teams have two relatively new coaches at the helm. This tournament will give them a chance to identify the talent they want to nurture for the forthcoming 2016 Rio Olympics. While Paul van Ass (the men’s coach) has already impressed in his brief tenure, Mathias Ahrens (the women’s coach) filled in a five-month long vacancy and is already exuding understated confidence.
All eyes now on the World Hockey League to see if that confidence is justified.
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The World Hockey League is an international field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation. Importantly, this competition decides which teams get to qualify for the Hockey World Cup as well as the Olympics.
The competition
Held every two years, the World Hockey League is meant to replace the qualifying tournaments for the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup and is held over four rounds. The competition is open to all IHF members, but higher ranked teams are given byes. The first edition was held in the 2012-13 season – the final was held in New Delhi where a dominant Netherlands drove in seven goals past New Zealand to take the trophy home.
This year, the Indian men’s team faces a tough prospect in their semi-final round, scheduled to start on June 20 at Antwerp, Belgium. They are up against archrivals Pakistan, ranked fifth in the world along with favourites Australia (ranked second). The other teams in their pool are Poland and France. It promises to be a tough outing for the men, but after a promising 2014 and a commendable third-place finish in the recently-held Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, they’ll be more than up for it.
All eyes on the women's team
It is on the women’s team though that all eyes will be on, after some impressive recent performances.
Ranked 12th in the world, the team finished seventh in the recently held Hawke’s Bay Cup held in New Zealand. Despite the position, the women did not disgrace themselves at all – in fact, they held the Australians (who are currently ranked second in the world) to a gritty scoreless draw and did one better by defeating a higher-ranked Japan 3-2. Despite losses to China and USA, the team stayed competitive throughout.
It’s also pertinent to keep in mind that unlike the men’s team, the women’s team were not given a direct bye to the semis and had to fight it out with other teams in Round 3, played in March this year. Their dominance was evident – they finished on top of their group, scoring 21 goals without conceding even one.
Hence, there seems to be an air of quiet determination around the team in the build-up to the semi-finals. Anuradha Devi, a forward in the team, has talked about how the team is ‘a more confident bunch under the new coach Mathias Ahrens’. On his part, Ahrens is certain that the team can qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The path to glory
In the 2012-2013 edition, the Indian men’s team put up s spirited display in the final round, defeating Germany in a close-fought game, only to be blanked by Australia 7-2 in the quarterfinals.
Though India are guaranteed a place in the finals of account of being the hosts, they will want to qualify of their own accord. On that account, the matches against Australia and Pakistan will be keenly anticipated. India should also be careful to guard against complacency when they take on other lower-ranked teams in their group, France and Poland.
The woman have no such luck – with the final of the women’s edition taking place in Argentina, the team will have to battle its way out of a tough group. With the exception of Poland, all the other teams in their group (Australia, New Zealand and Belgium) are ranked higher.
The first match against Belgium will set the pace. India will be realistically looking to finish fourth, as this will be enough to clinch qualification. After that, it’s just a matter of one good game or two to sail through.
Both the men and women’s teams have two relatively new coaches at the helm. This tournament will give them a chance to identify the talent they want to nurture for the forthcoming 2016 Rio Olympics. While Paul van Ass (the men’s coach) has already impressed in his brief tenure, Mathias Ahrens (the women’s coach) filled in a five-month long vacancy and is already exuding understated confidence.
All eyes now on the World Hockey League to see if that confidence is justified.
