According to Savita, the captain of the Indian women's hockey squad, the upcoming matches in Germany and Spain are an essential part of their roadmap to the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Having set off for Europe this past Wednesday, the team's first stop is Germany, where they are slated for a three-match series consisting of two games against the Germans and one against the Chinese team.
Indian women’s hockey team captain Savita believes that her side is looking at the tour of Germany and Spain as an opportunity to prepare for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. The Indian women’s team departed for a Europe tour on Wednesday. Savita-led side will be first flying to Germany for the three-match series, where it will play the hosts in two games, besides taking on China in the other match.
The tour opens on July 16 in Limburg with a game against China, then moves to Wiesbaden and Russelsheim for matches against Germany on July 18 and 19. On July 20, the team will move on to Terrassa, Spain, to participate in the Spanish Hockey Federation's centenary international tournament. This leg of the trip starts with a game against Spain on July 25, followed by matchups with South Africa on July 27 and England on July 28.
Savita shared her enthusiasm for the trip before departing, explaining that testing themselves against high-caliber teams is a perfect learning opportunity ahead of the Asian Games. She believes these fixtures are critical for their readiness. The captain added that after spending several months analyzing their strengths and flaws, the team is determined to perform at their peak in Europe. The Asian Games are scheduled to run from September 23 to October 8.
In other news, Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, believes the appointment of Dennis van de Pol as goalkeeping coach will significantly benefit the squad. To enhance the team's defensive capabilities, van de Pol has organized two specialized training camps for the keepers: the first from July 13 to 19, and a second from September 7 to 14, timed perfectly just before the Asian Games begin.
Harmanpreet praised his teammates' dedication and talent, stating that the players are eager to give their maximum effort to bring pride to the nation. He noted that the upcoming challenges would only make the team more resilient. Furthermore, he expressed confidence that the Dutch coach's expertise and technical skills would provide a substantial boost to the team's overall strength.
The Indian men's team is set to compete against England, the Netherlands, and Spain in a four-nation tournament starting July 25.