Bhubaneswar: World No. 1 Netherlands men’s hockey team arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on Sunday ahead of their FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 matches in India. The FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Men) is scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar from February 10 to 16 before moving to the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, where the league will continue from February 19 to 25. Five national teams – Ireland, Netherlands, India, Spain and Australia – will participate in the India leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Men), facing each other once in Bhubaneswar and once in Rourkela.
Netherlands will play their first match of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 (Men) against Ireland on 10 February, followed by the much-awaited contest against hosts India on 11 February. After this they will face Spain on 13 February. Australia on 16 February before going to Rourkela. “Preparations are going really well. We have done a very good job in the training sessions. People have done good work.
We love living in India and there is a good team spirit among all of us. We are excited about it.” The campaign is about to begin,” Netherlands captain Thierry Brinkman was quoted as saying by Hockey India. Asked about the toughest opponents on the tour, he said: “We are curious about Australia, they could be tough opponents for us. Of course, facing India in front of their home crowd will be a challenge, especially in such huge stadiums as was the case in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. So, we are looking forward to those tough battles.” “With the Paris Olympics 2024 coming up, this is an important tour for us to test ourselves against strong teams,” Brinkman said. We are looking forward to a good tournament.”
