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The Indian junior women’s hockey team will tour Europe from June 8-17, playing Belgium, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Indian women’s junior hockey team (Picture credit: Hockey India)
The Indian junior women’s hockey team will continue its international campaign with a five-match European tour from 8 to 17 June, competing against Belgium, Australia, and the Netherlands. Following a strong showing at the Four Nations Tournament in Rosario, Argentina, the team has arrived in Europe for the next stage of its international development.
India will begin the tour with three matches against Belgium at the Hockey Center of Excellence, Wilrijkse Plein, in Antwerp. They will then play against Australia at Beerschot Tennis Hockey Padel Club in Kontich, and conclude the tour with a match against the Netherlands at Hockey Club Kampong in Utrecht.
In Argentina, the Indian team delivered impressive performances against high-quality opponents. They secured a 2-1 victory and a 2-2 (2-3 SO) loss against Chile, a 1-1 (2-0 SO) win and a 2-4 loss against hosts Argentina, and defeated Uruguay twice – 3-2 and 2-2 (3-1 SO). This tour proved crucial for the team’s preparation, providing valuable experience in managing pressure situations and adapting to diverse playing styles.
These matches are also vital to India’s preparation for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2025, scheduled for Santiago, Chile, in December. Competing against formidable international teams in varied conditions will help refine the squad’s combinations, develop match temperament, and enhance confidence ahead of the global tournament.
Indian junior women’s hockey team coach Tushar Khandker remarked, “This extended tour is an excellent opportunity for our team. We gained valuable experience in Argentina, and now facing Belgium, Australia, and the Netherlands will allow us to build on that momentum. These high-calibre teams will test our tactical and technical prowess, as well as our consistency. For many of these players, this is a critical phase in their development, and such tours provide exposure that cannot be replicated in training sessions alone.”
He added, “Most importantly, this tour plays a crucial role in our preparations for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2025 later this year. Every match we play now helps us get one step closer to being ready for that challenge.”
(With inputs from IANS)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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