Indian Women's Hockey Team Set for Australia Tour Ahead of Nations Cup

Indian Women's Hockey Team to Tour Australia

New Delhi, May 13: Hockey India has revealed that the Indian Women's Hockey Team will embark on a tour to Australia from May 21 to June 3, 2023. This trip is part of their preparations for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26, which is scheduled to occur from June 15 to 21 in Auckland, New Zealand.

During their time in Australia, the team will compete in four matches against the Australian side at the Perth Hockey Stadium from May 26 to 30, 2023. The initial two matches are set for May 26 and 27 at 5:00 PM IST, while the final two will take place on May 29 and 30 at 11:00 AM IST.

After concluding their Australian tour, the team will head to New Zealand for additional practice matches in preparation for the Nations Cup, as stated in a press release from Hockey India.

The Indian Women's Hockey Team enters this tour following a successful stint in Argentina earlier this year, where they secured two victories out of four matches. Since returning, the squad has been diligently training at the national camp in SAI Bengaluru, concentrating on enhancing crucial skills ahead of a busy international schedule.

With support from Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation, the team’s drag-flick specialists will participate in a specialized training clinic led by Dutch hockey legend Taeke Taekema from May 26 to June 21, 2023, in Perth and Auckland.

Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasized the significance of this tour, stating, “We are very pleased that Hockey India has facilitated this tour, as these matches will allow us to pinpoint our weaknesses and recognize our improvements following our training camps. Our previous matches against Argentina have set a benchmark, and now we can assess how close we are to achieving the level of our recent victories and sustaining that momentum.”

He also noted that the tour would aid the team in acclimatizing to the conditions before arriving in New Zealand. “By breaking up the long journey, we can adapt more quickly. The climate in New Zealand is cooler, and the conditions in Perth will be more similar to what we will face there,” he added.