Going by the teams' past 4-4 win-loss record in World Cups, there is little to separate the two hockey powerhouses. But a win on Thursday will not only earn one of them a spot in the title clash, but also give them the edge when it boils down to rivalry between the two countries in the tournament.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday.
The prestigious Champions Trophy men's hockey tournament will be held in New Delhi from December 3 to 11, the FIH announced on Friday. The world's top eight countries, including Olympic champions Germany and 2010 World Cup winners Australia, will take part in the tournament.
Taking strong exception to FIH's "weak" censure to Pakistani players for their obscene behaviour after beating India in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Hockey India decided that it would not host any event sanctioned by the world body until strong punishment is handed out to the offenders.
'I feel so fortunate to be part of this incredible group and yes, I do believe I have been lucky to have had such a great start to my international career.'
They had a golden chance to equalise with Deep Grace Ekka taking the strike from close range as the ball took a deflection from Vandana Katariya but only to ricochet off the crossbar in the second quarter.
The Government of India is set to appoint Hockey India's Director High Performance Roelant Oltmans as Chief Coordinator and High Performance Director for Indian Hockey.
Asian champions India have been clubbed along side arch-rivals Pakistan in the same pool in the men's Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final 2017 to be held in London.
Eight-time Olympic champions India find itself in a lowly ninth position among men's teams in the recently-released FIH World Hockey Rankings.
The age-old malady of inconsistency remained unaddressed but Indian hockey did take baby steps towards global success in 2017, a year which reaffirmed the nation's continental supremacy in the sport.
The Walmiki brothers, Yuvraj and Devinder and their nephew Anup Amarpal will steal the limelight in the Hero Hockey India League.
The Indian women's hockey team stunned formidable Germany 2-1 to register its second consecutive win in pool stages and assure its place in the quarter-finals of the FIH Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
Former India captain Jude Felix has been appointed coach of the senior men's hockey team. The Olympian will work under chief coach Terry Walsh, Hockey India said on Wednesday.
The airline demanded more than a thousand rupees for him to carry 41 inch hockey stick
The other teams in India's pool are Spain, New Zealand and hosts Japan. The Pool B is made up of Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Canada and South Africa in the groupings announced by world governing body FIH on Saturday.
South Korea complained that two of the four goals by Australia in the World Cup semi-finals were not legal.
The Indian Junior Women's Hockey Team emerged Champions of the Women's Junior Asia Cup 2023 held in Kakamigahara.
Rising Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh was named the 'Junior Player of the Year' by the Asian Hockey Federation in its Congress held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Indians were undone by a horrendous stopwatch faux pas by technical officials in the shoot-out against Australia
India made a spirited fightback in the second half but failed to earn a direct berth in next year's hockey World Cup as they lost the high-scoring summit clash 3-4 to defending champions South Korea, in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Monday.
New Zealand pulled off the biggest surprise of the ongoing World League Semifinals with a 2-0 win over World Cup silver medalists Australia in the women's preliminary league in Antwerp.
The Indian junior men's team beat Pakistan in a thriller in the final of the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023.
India hockey chief coach Graham Reid has his sights set on the Asian Games, FIH Pro League, Commonwealth Games, Hockey World Cup in 2023 and Paris Olympics the following year.
Former Pakistan captain Tahir Zaman believes the resumption of hockey ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will prove beneficial to both countries and will also be a big boost for revival of the sport.
The ongoing hockey World Cup proved India is perfectly safe for visitors and Australian cricketers should put aside their security apprehensions and play in the Indian Premier League, star Kookaburra player Jamie Dwyer said in New Delhi on Thursday.
Gagan Ajit Singh, Jugraj Singh and Prabhjot Singh are shortlisted Young Player of the Year award, while Devesh Chauhan and Dilip Tirkey are in the running for the senior award.
Harendra Singh, who was conferred the Dronacharya award in 2012, served as chief coach of the senior India men's hockey team from 2017 to 2018. Before that, he was also in charge of the Indian women's team for some time.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday.
Star Pakistani drag-flicker Sohail Abbas felt sorry for Shivendra Singh but said the FIH "must have taken a correct decision" while banning the Indian striker for two matches in the hockey World Cup
India's captain Dilip Tirkey has been selected in the World hockey All-Star team 2006.
'We have chosen an experienced side for the Commonwealth Games and the players believe they have a good shot at a medal'
'Right now hockey is totally changed and anyone can beat anyone depending on the day. It depends on how many chances you create.'
A pall of gloom shrouded the Pakistan hockey community after the national team failed to qualify for the Olympics.
Senior players like Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh will give the tournament a miss.
While players and teams from other participating nations can venture out as and when they wish, individual outings are a big 'No' for the Pakistani players. They are allowed to visit places in groups only and have to mandatorily inform the security a day in advance.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Rani Rampal led the team to historic victories in the Women's Asia Cup in 2017, silver at the 2018 Asian Games and played a critical role in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in 2019 by scoring the deciding goal that helped India qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
Indian women's hockey team forward Rani Rampal is set to become an assistant coach with the Sports Authority of India after SAI relaxed its recruitment norms owing to her fine brilliant record.
The Indian captain led from the front and pulled off as many as six saves in the shootout
