India look to test resources in European leg of Pro League ahead of World Cup, Asian Games

India faces the Netherlands in Sunday's FIH Pro League opener in Rotterdam, kickstarting a vital European leg before the World Cup. The blockbuster match also features veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh equaling Dilip Tirkey's record of 412 international caps

Rotterdam: India will look to test their resources ahead of two major assignments when they open their campaign against hosts Netherlands in the European leg of the ongoing FIH Pro League here on Sunday.

Led by Harmanpreet Singh, India will take on the Netherlands and Germany ahead of the World Cup and the Asian Games, which is also a qualifying tournament for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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The World Cup will be jointly co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30, while the Asian Games will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.

India will open their campaign against the Netherlands on Sunday before facing Germany in back-to-back encounters on June 17 and 18.

India will then conclude the Dutch leg with a second meeting against the Netherlands on June 21.

After their fixtures in the Netherlands, India will travel to London for two matches each against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 23 and June 26, and against England on June 26 and June 28.

India are currently on the penultimate position of the nine-team standings with four points from eight games, followed by Pakistan at the bottom.

Belgium are leading the leaderboard with 22 points from eight matches, followed by Australia (21 points from 8) and Argentina (17 points from 8).

The Netherlands are placed fourth with 15 points from eight games.

“This Pro League block is a crucial part of our World Cup preparation. Playing in the Netherlands and England against top-ranked opposition is exactly the test we need at this stage. These fixtures give us the opportunity to test our different combinations,” head coach Craig Fulton said on the eve of the match.

“Our focus is simple — press well, be dangerous on the counter, and be consistent across all four matches. We know where we want to be by the World Cup, and these games will tell us where we are exactly.”

The Indian team will also look to make the most of the atmosphere and conditions in the Netherlands, which will also serve as a World Cup venue.

“Playing hockey in the Netherlands and against the hosts is always a great opportunity, and with a full stadium, it’s always a great atmosphere. These are perfect tournament conditions for us,” Fulton said.

The upcoming clash against the Netherlands will also mark a special occasion for one of India’s most decorated hockey players.

Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh is set to equal the record for most international appearances for India with incumbent Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey by reaching 412 caps.

“India’s iconic midfielder Manpreet Singh will have the opportunity to equal the all-time record of 412 international caps for India — a milestone that speaks volumes about his service to the nation, exceptional skills, and an unbreakable bond with the national team,” Tirkey said.

“Manpreet has been the heartbeat of Indian hockey’s midfield through some of the most defining moments in our recent history, none more so than captaining the team to Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020. To have sustained that level of performance match after match, year after year, is a testament to his extraordinary character,” he added.