New Delhi, 12 June (H.S.):

Indian hockey fans are set for an action-filled two weeks as both the men’s and women’s national teams embark on important international assignments from June 14 to 28, featuring high-profile tournaments across Europe and Oceania.

The Indian men’s team will compete in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025–26 season in Europe, while the women’s team will participate in the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Together, the tours will ensure near-daily international fixtures involving Indian sides.

The matches are being seen as crucial preparation ahead of major global events later in the year, including the Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games. Team management is expected to use these games to assess combinations, test depth, and refine strategies.

The men’s team will begin its campaign against world number one the Netherlands in Rotterdam. India will then face reigning world champions Germany in consecutive matches. One of the most anticipated fixtures of the tour will be the India–Pakistan clash in London, which remains one of the sport’s most followed rivalries.

The women’s team, meanwhile, will aim to win the Nations Cup in order to secure promotion back into the FIH Pro League system. The Auckland tournament offers an important opportunity for the squad to strengthen its position at the elite international level.

Former Indian hockey player Rupinder Pal Singh described the upcoming schedule as a significant phase for both players and supporters, noting that each match carries considerable competitive value. Former captain Rani Rampal also highlighted that the simultaneous participation of both teams at major international events reflects the steady rise of Indian hockey on the global stage.

The men’s team schedule in the FIH Pro League includes matches against the Netherlands, Germany, Pakistan, and England between June 14 and June 28. The women’s team will play group-stage matches against the United States, Japan, and Uruguay, followed by knockout or classification games depending on results.

Broadcast coverage of the men’s matches will be available on the Star Sports network and streamed live on JioHotstar, while the women’s games will be accessible on the Watch.Hockey platform.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar