India will play five matches in all as they prepare for the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
From May 18 to May 27, the women’s hockey team from India will play a five-match series in Australia. Prior to playing Australia A in the last two games, the team captained by Savita Punia will play Australia in the first three games.
Australia, ranked third in the world, will be the opponent in games on May 18, 20, and 21, while Australia A will be the opponent in games on May 25 and 27. At Adelaide’s MATE Stadium, all contests will be held.
The tour will act as a warm-up for the Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou between September and October.
“Playing Australia in Australia will help us assess where we stand in comparison to the top of women’s hockey.” More significantly, the series will be critical for our preparations for the Asian Games in China, as it will provide us with valuable exposure while also assisting us in identifying areas where we need to make improvements and adjustments. So it’s a really crucial tour for us strategically,” said India’s head coach, Janneke Schopman.
This will be the world No. 8 team’s second tour of the year, following a trip to Cape Town in January, when they played four matches against hosts South Africa and three against world and Olympic winners Netherlands. India defeated world No. 22 South Africa 3-0, but lost all three games to world No. 1 Netherlands.
Australia defeated New Zealand in a shootout in the semi-finals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Previously, India stunned the Hockeyroos in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“The Hockeyroos are always excited to play in Australia, and this series is one we’re particularly looking forward to. There will be a lot to play for in these games and we have a fun set of guys named. It’s a chance to play against a really good international opponent, as well as a selection opportunity for players wanting to join our squad for the Oceania Cup and be considered for the Paris Olympics, according to Australia’s head coach Katrina Powell.
