What’s next for Indian men and women in the FIH Hockey World League?

Hockey fans would be mighty pleased to see the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams qualify for the round 3 of the FIH Hero Hockey World League tournament. The Indian men maintained their winning streak, posting five wins in a row to make the Round 3 cut along with Ireland, while the Indian hockey eves made the cut along with Japan, with whom they were involved in an intriguing tussle which went into penalty shootout.

Both India and Ireland are the first two teams to make it to Round 3. There will be three more Round 2 tournaments played over the next three months from which six teams would join India and Ireland in the Round 3 tournament, which is slated to be held in June this year.

The second men’s Round 2 tournament would kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from February 27 to March 5. World number 10 Argentina and world number 12 South Africa would be the favourites to qualify from this tournament. They would be competing with 25th ranked Chile, 29th ranked United States, 33rd ranked Brazil and 34th ranked Trinidad and Tobago.

The third men’s Round 2 tournament would be held at St. Germain, France from May 6 to 12. World number 9 Belgium, 14th ranked Canada besides 17th ranked hosts France would be the favourites to make the cut. Other teams taking part in this Round 2 tourney are 19th ranked Poland, 23rd ranked Scotland and 50th ranked Portugal.

The fourth and final men’s Round 2 tournament would be held at Elektrostal, Russia from May 27 to June 2. World number 16 Japan and hosts Russia (ranked 20th) would be the favourites to qualify from this group. Other competing teams are 21st ranked Czech Republic, 22nd ranked Austria, 24th ranked Egypt and 27th ranked Ukraine.

In the women’s section, India and Japan have become the third and fourth teams to qualify for Round 3. In fact, the New Delhi event was the second women’s Round 2 tournament. Earlier, South Africa and Belgium made the cut from the first women’s Round 2 tournament held in South Africa last month.

South Africa, Belgium, India and Japan would be joined by four other teams, who would be playing in the third and fourth women’s Round 3 tournaments in the coming weeks.

The third women’s Round 2 tournament will be held in Valencia, Spain from February 25 to March 3. World number 14 Ireland and hosts Spain (15th ranked) would be the favourites to qualify from this tourney. Other competing teams are 17th ranked Italy, 21st ranked Belarus and 37th ranked Czech Republic.

The fourth and final women’s Round 2 tournament will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from March 4 to 10. World number 10 United States and 18th ranked Chile would be the favourites to qualify from this tourney. Other competing teams are 19th ranked Scotland, 27th ranked Trinidad & Tobago, 50th ranked Uruguay and 55th ranked Brazil.

Round 3 would feature two tournaments featuring sixteen teams clubbed into two pools. Eight teams who make it to Round 3 in both the men’s and women’s categories, would be joined by the teams having a world ranking of 1-8, who have been given a bye to round 3.

Eight teams would qualify for the Hockey World League finals.