Hyderabad, 05 March (H.S.): The Austrian women's hockey team arrived here Thursday ahead of the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, joining seven other nations vying for three coveted spots at the August showpiece in Belgium and the Netherlands.Hosted at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium from March 8 to 14, the tournament features Pool A matchups for Austria against England, Italy, and Korea, with captain Johanna Check leading the charge to end a 45-year absence from the World Cup—last qualified in 1981 after featuring in three of the first four editions.

This is our first time in India, so we're thrilled and eager to play quality hockey, Check said. Preparation was limited to one training session, but we'll have more practice here and give our all on the pitch.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar