India start FIH Pro League 2021-22 season versus New Zealand, Australia

With the current season still on, the international hockey federation (FIH) on Saturday announced the schedule for the 2021-22 Pro League season. India will play their first two matches in New Zealand in February 2022.

India made their debut in the current season that began in January 2020. It should have got over in June 2020 before Covid-19 postponed the culmination.

The new season will start on October 16 with world champions Belgium taking on Germany at home. India will start with the double header in New Zealand on February 5 and 6 before facing Australia away on February 12 and 13.

India will return home to face Spain (February 26-27), Germany (March 12-13), Argentina (March 19-20) and England (April 2-3) before facing Belgium (June 11-12) and Netherlands (June 18-19) away.

“Though right now our focus is on doing well in Tokyo this July and peaking at the right time to succeed at the Olympics, we now know what needs to be done in the second half of the year where we will need to prepare with an intent to do well against New Zealand and Australia in their home grounds,” India skipper Manpreet Singh said. “They (New Zealand and Australia) are always very challenging, particularly at home.”

India are currently fourth in the standings of the nine-team event, behind Belgium, Germany and Netherlands. India beat the Olympic champions Argentina away in both meetings, but their subsequent away matches against Great Britain on May 8-9 in London were postponed due to a massive surge in Covid-19 cases. Graham Reid-coached India are due to take on Spain in Valencia on May 15 and 16.

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