India gears up to play host in the upcoming FIH Women's World League Round 2

New Delhi, March 5, 2015: The FIH World League Round – 2 (Women) is all set to make a start on the March 7 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. The turf will witness eight women hockey teams from eight different countries take on each other in some exciting and gripping games of hockey with the sole objective to win and advance to the semi finals of the League.

The League holds importance as each team will look at winning and going on to play the World League Round 3 which is the final stage of qualification for the 2016 RIO Olympics. The Indian team, post their great show at Spain will look at winning and proceeding to the next round of the League.

Divided into two pools of four teams each, Indian eves are placed in Pool A with women from Poland, Ghana and Thailand, while Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Singapore are placed in Pool B. The women will lock horns with each other in the Pool matches starting March 7th as they will bring into play the best of their strategies and the finest tricks of the trade to defeat their opponent and move forward to the quarter finals. The inaugural match of the League will see Malaysia clashing with Kazakhstan while the Indian eves will begin their campaign in the League by taking on Ghana on the opening day at 20:00 HRS IST.

The first match of the opening day will see Malaysia taking on Kazakhstan. Having faced each other last year, Malaysia defeated Kazakhstan to earn an impressive 5-0 win in the final of the Women’s World League Round One. By completing the first round with 100 percent win record, Malaysia now will be looking forward to break the experienced defensive line of Kazakhstan who took the second berth.

Placed in Pool B along with Malaysia and Kazakhstan, the women team from Russia and Singapore will battle it out in the second match of the day with their finest game skills and strategies with an aim to begin their campaign in the League with a win. In the Hockey World League Round – 1, hosts Singapore women team had finished fourth in the competition, successfully qualifying for World League Round – 2. With the team line-up and field plan in place, both the sides are completely ready to lock horns with each other in the impending match.

The third match will witness Thailand taking on Poland. While both the teams have not faced each other in Round 1 of the World League, both the teams will be eyeing on giving a tough competition and get the better of themselves. In Hockey World League Round – 1, the Thailand women team had performed exceptionally well winning a third position for themselves thereby qualifying for World League Round 2. Whereas, Poland which was on the bottom of the Pool standing in the first round, will look at starting the tournament on a high.

The last clash on the opening day of the league will see India and Ghana battling it out on the field, in order to start the tour on a winning note. Sited along with Poland, Thailand and Ghana in Pool A, India enjoys a better FIH ranking and will want to start the tournament on a winning note. High on confidence post their show at the recently Valencia tour, the Indian eves with their skilful play is all set to give Ghana a touugh time.

Where the speculations suggests Indian eves to be a stronger team, Ghana proved their mettle in the World League Round 1 by defeating Tanzania with a mammoth 17-0 and entering the second phase of the league to take on bigger challenges.

Speaking on the upcoming League, Mr. Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India, said, “It’s an honour to host yet another International tournament of this stature and we look forward to exhilarating hockey to be played in the upcoming League between the eight participating teams. Each team will be vying for the win and entering the next round and good wishes to each team”

The matches of the FIH World League Round 2 (Women) will be telecast LIVE and exclusive on DD Sports.

HO Press release