India is currently placed third in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25. As they resume their European tour, vice-captain Hardik Singh stressed that the team’s goal is to finish the league on top.
India Set to Face the Netherlands
India will face the Netherlands on June 7 in Amstelveen. So far, the team has recorded five wins and three losses. According to Hardik, the players are focused on qualifying for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 through this tournament. He said the team believes that “if we stick to the plan, accumulate enough points, and push for wins-even securing points from draws and subsequent shootouts-we stand a great chance of qualifying.”
Other Teams Pose Strong Competition
Hardik pointed out that two top teams, Belgium and the Netherlands, already qualified for the World Cup as co-hosts. He explained that “Belgium (currently ranked number two) and the Netherlands (placed behind India at number four) qualify automatically,” which slightly eases the pressure on India.
However, he added that the team must still perform well, especially against England, Germany, and Spain, who are also strong contenders. “Our matches against Argentina will also be crucial,” he said. Moreover, he highlighted that early qualification would allow the team more time to prepare. “This is a good challenge for us to have,” he said, adding, “qualifying early would give us more time to prepare for the World Cup.”
India Prepared Intensely for European Matches
Over the past three weeks, the Indian squad trained at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. The sessions focused on fitness and endurance to get ready for the tight European schedule. Hardik noted that “the sessions have been nothing short of rigorous.” He also explained that “our strength and conditioning have been on point, mainly because we want to be at our peak for back-to-back matches.”
In addition, he said the team won’t get much rest between games. “We practically have no rest days between games, and even when we do, we’ll be travelling from the Netherlands to Belgium,” he explained.
Busy Schedule Ahead for India
India will play the Netherlands twice on June 7 and 9. Then, they will meet Argentina on June 11 and 12 at the Wagner Stadium. After that, the team travels to Antwerp to play Australia on June 14 and 15. Finally, India will wrap up their campaign with matches against Belgium on June 21 and 22.
Matches Offer Valuable Experience
Hardik emphasized that every point from these six games will be crucial. He also said that playing at the same venues as the World Cup is a big advantage. “Every point in these six matches will matter,” he stated. He further explained that “the matches are being played at the same venues where the World Cup will be held next year,” which helps the team better prepare. According to him, “we are treating this like a World Cup simulation, and that makes this outing even more important for our squad.”