Bhubaneswar, 28th January 2024: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Sunday, marking the beginning of their journey in the 2023/24 FIH Hockey Pro League. Savita, a veteran goalie, will lead the team as captain, with Vandana Katariya supporting her as the vice-captain.
Scheduled from February 3rd to 9th, the first leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Women) will be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. It will then shift to the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, hosting matches from February 12th to 18th. Competing in this leg are five nations: India, China, the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, each set to play once in Bhubaneswar and once in Rourkela.
India’s opening match is against the current Asian Games Champions, China, on February 3rd, followed by a game against the Netherlands on February 4th. They will then play Australia on February 7th and conclude their Bhubaneswar stint with a match against the United States on February 9th.
Participating for the second time in the FIH Hockey Pro League, the Indian Women’s Team previously debuted in the 2021/22 season, finishing in third place. Their victory against Spain in the 2022 FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Final in Spain, with a score of 1-0, secured their spot in this season’s Pro League.
Janneke Schopman, the Chief Coach, emphasized the significance of the FIH Hockey Pro League, noting it as crucial for the team’s continuous improvement and as a platform for the younger players to adapt to international hockey’s demands. She also highlighted the team’s focus on securing a qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, expressing confidence in the team’s readiness to give their best from the first match.
Follow Goalpost for more sports content.