Last Updated:
The India A men’s hockey team, led by Sanjay, begins their European tour against Ireland on Tuesday.
The matches will be crucial for selection to the senior team. (Credits: Hockey India)
The India A men’s hockey team is primed to start their European tour with an opening match against Ireland at the Hockey Club Oranje-Rood in Eindhoven, Netherlands on Tuesday. Organised by Hockey India, this tour features eight matches against top European sides, designed to offer valuable international exposure to a blend of emerging and experienced players.
Led by Sanjay, the squad combines youth and experience. Sanjay, enthusiastic about the tour, shared ahead of the first game, “The tour of Europe is a great opportunity for all of us. There will be some very tough games on this tour and we are looking forward to testing ourselves against these teams. There is youth and experience in our squad, and that will be very useful for the team in these games.”
India A will face Ireland, France, and the Netherlands twice each, and play one match against England and Belgium. These high-stakes games are anticipated to challenge India’s talent pool, as the national setup aims to build a robust pipeline for the senior team.
Sanjay further remarked, “The India A men’s team is aware of the challenges and how tough the opposition will be. It is also quite different since we are playing away from home. But the team has prepared well, and our senior players have also been helping the younger ones settle in and understand the demands of the game at this level.”
While the first match is against Ireland, the team is focused on the broader goals and hopes to gain significantly from the tour. Captain Sanjay emphasised that this tour is a steppingstone to the Indian men’s hockey team.
He said, “The India A men’s hockey team’s tour of Europe is one of the avenues to break into the senior squad. All of us are keen to up our game, and match up to the European standards of hockey first, and then leave an impression on the matches as well, so that the senior coaches and selectors take note.”
“While the results are of utmost importance, the India A Men’s Hockey Team will be focused on playing good hockey across the matches in the next two weeks. Our goal will be to try and get our combinations right and execute our plans perfectly. We have been working hard as a group in training for this, and now we have to make our plans work. In terms of preparation, we have put in the hard work, and hope that is visible when we take the field,” he concluded.
The first match between India A and Ireland will take place on July 8.
With IANS Inputs
- Location :
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- First Published:
