Having failed to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games to be held later this year, the Indian women's hockey team will try to salvage some pride during the first cluster of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 starting at the Kalinga Stadium here on February 3.
The Indian team touched down at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Sunday to kick off their campaign in this cluster at the Kalinga Stadium and Rourkela. Long-standing custodian Savita will continue to lead the squad as captain while forward Vandana Katariya, who returns to the squad after recuperating from an injury, will serve as her deputy.
The FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Women) is scheduled to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from February 3 to 9, before moving to the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, where the league will be held from February 12 to 18.
Besides India, four more national teams China, the United States of America, the Netherlands, and Australia -– will participate in this leg of the FIH Pro League 2023/24, facing each other once in Bhubaneswar and once in Rourkela.
India will take on reigning Asian Games champions China in their first game on February 3, followed by a clash with the Netherlands on February 4. They will face off against Australia on Feb 7 before playing their last game in Bhubaneswar against the United States on Feb 9.
The women’s team is competing in the FIH Hockey Pro League for the second time. Indian women's team’s first appearance in the FIH Hockey Pro League was during the 2021/22 season when it finished third. Last year, India defeated Spain 1-0 in the final of the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup Spain 2022 to secure their spot in the FIH Pro League 2023/24.
Speaking on the importance of the FIH Hockey Pro League, chief coach Janneke Schopman said, “As the team continues to improve it is imperative that we give our best in the FIH Pro League and use this opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world.
"The FIH Pro League will be a great platform for some of the youngsters in the squad to acquaint themselves with the demands of international hockey and further hone their skills. This season we will also have the chance to secure qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, so the team is prepared to give it their all from the first match,” she said.
Crew on seized cargo ship to be released soon, assures Iran Foreign Minister
The 16 remaining Indian crew members on board a cargo ship seized by Iran are set to be released soon, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.
1,500 Sikhs join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, Punjab
In a significant development, 1,500 members from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, along with Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations, joined BJP on Saturday, just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Punjab.
TMC writes to ECI complaining about CBI, NSG ops at Sandeshkhali during second phase of polls
The Trinamool Congress on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) opposing the CBI and National Security Guard (NSG) raids at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on Friday and expressed apprehensions that the central agencies might have 'planted' weapons at the search site to 'defame it' when the second phase of Lok Sabha polls were underway.
2 CRPF personnel killed in attack by armed group in Manipur
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur’s Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.
Land subsidence leaves 350 people homeless in J&K’s Ramban District
Over 350 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) Ramban District abandoned their homes on Saturday after destruction of the houses due to land subsidence.
Houthi leader vows to continue maritime attacks, calls Indian Ocean 'new theatre of confrontation'
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi group, has vowed to continue its naval operations in the Red Sea, rejecting media reports suggesting a decrease in Houthi maritime attacks, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
Second phase of Lok Sabha polls sees enthusiastic voter turnout from Jammu to Kerala, Maharashtra to Tripura
The BJP, holding a significant number of seats in this phase, considers these elections crucial for maintaining and expanding its influence to secure a substantial majority in the Lok Sabha.
EC suspends 26 Tripura govt staff for taking part in political events, violation of poll code
The Election Commission (EC) has so far suspended 26 Tripura government employees, including security personnel, for participating in political events, election campaigns, and violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC),