Chief coach Craig Fulton said the tournament will provide younger players the opportunity to experience the pressure of facing some of the top sides in the world.
It's business as usual for the Indian men's and women's hockey players as they prepare for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in a 'safe environment'. The Sports Authority of India Centre, which has been shut for outside visitors, is well-equipped for regular practice sessions and no unauthorised persons are allowed to enter its premises.
Coach Rajinder Singh said 'the aim is to unwind and train at the same time'.
Brimming with confidence after the team's recent four-nation tour of Europe, captain Sandeep Singh said India will be a force to reckon with at next year's hockey World Cup in Delhi.
Terry Walsh may have expressed a desire to again take up the Indian coaching job, but Hockey India on Tuesday made it clear that it doesn't require the services of the Australian any more.
Pro League: India women suffer second straight loss to Belgium
You don't prep for 2028 but for 2040, or even 2044. Sustained sporting excellence is based on mass support, grassroots development, and funding - and it is this trifecta India needs to work on, systematically, asserts Prem Panicker.
'The way we are playing now, if we continue to play the same hockey, no one can stop us from standing on the podium in Tokyo.'
Not only did the Indian High Commission issue visa to the players, the new sponsors have also released nine million Pakistani rupees to cover the team's expenses in the tournament to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 28 to December 16.
A large contingent of officials and media were present at the airport to receive the team, which finished fifth in the just-concluded Hockey World League Semi-finals in Antwerp.
'Right now hockey is totally changed and anyone can beat anyone depending on the day. It depends on how many chances you create.'
With an aim to enhance mental toughness of the players ahead of upcoming international tournaments, the Indian hockey team management is all set to rope in a Bangalore-based lady sports psychologist on temporary basis.
The surprise decision comes despite the Indian team finishing a creditable second in the four-nation tournament in Dusseldorf\n\non Sunday.
India hockey coach V Bhaskaran said the team has recovered from the shock of losing injured drag-flicker Sandeep Singh's services for the World Cup and is positive about its prospects in the quadrennial event.
Be it Dhoom, Singham or the Munnabhai franchise, there are certain stories that have tons more to say or solid cash cow potential and Bollywood is all for it.
Chief coach Rajendra Singh said that his boys were in a high spirit and they would certainly perform their best in the championship.
We played very badly in the first 10 minutes, said the Indian coach of his team's 1-4 loss to Australia.
Former India captain Dhanraj Pillay on Monday batted for participation of Pakistan's players in the Hockey India League (HIL) tournament and urged Hockey India to take up the issue with politicians to ensure their presence in the future editions of the franchise-based league.
The IHF said he will continue till the 2006 World Cup.
PHOTOS: Indian athletes gearing up for the Games
India take on China on Sunday in their opening match of the Asia Cup.
The midfield will be spearheaded by Olympic bronze medal-winning former skipper Manpreet Singh, current vice-captain Hardik Singh and young Vivek Sagar Prasad, while India also boasts of a strong, attacking forwardline in Shamsher Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
Harmanpreet Singh had also captained the side in the recent series against Australia, where the side fought hard before losing the five-match rubber 1-4.
The Indian women's hockey team, sans coach, finished last at the four-nations tournament in Rotterdam, after they were thrashed 1-5 by South Africa in the third and fourth place play-off match. Hosts Netherlands won the tournament after crushing Great Britain 5-0 in the final on Saturday.
National coach Harendra Singh virtually conceded on Thursday that the Indian hockey team is divided on the captaincy issue, but assured that the episode will not affect the team's performance in the World Cup, in Delhi later this month.
Hockey icon Balbir Singh Senior, who died at 96 after battling multiple health issues, was on Monday cremated in Chandigarh with full state honours, with Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi declaring that the Mohali stadium will be named after the legendary player. The mortal remains of the three-time Olympic gold medallist was consigned to flames at an electric crematorium here, with his maternal grandson Kabir performing the last rites in the presence of Sikh priests.
High on confidence, but ravaged by injuries, the Indian hockey team faces a stiff challenge from reigning Olympic champions Germany in their third preliminary league match in the FIH Champions Trophy, in Melbourne, on Tuesday.
Indian hockey team coach Joaquim Carvalho's views on the need for a specialist coach to tone-up the penalty-corner conversion rate was in conflict with those of IHF chief K P S Gill.
Pained by the turmoil in Indian hockey, an Indian doctor in London has offered Rs 10 lakh for the players who are staying away from the World Cup preparatory camp in Pune in protest against non-payment of their dues and incentives. Olympian and former chief coach Joaquim Carvalho said Dr James Leitao, a former student of Mumbai's Grand Medical College, has offered to help.
With three wins and a draw, India are currently leading the six-team league table with 10 points and a goal difference of eight.
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.
India's stunning victory over Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey final was marred by the constant hollering of the victorious players with abusive words by Pakistan head coach.
Hockey India President Narinder Batra has launched a scathing attack at India's Chef de Mission Rajeev Mehta and the other members of Indian Olympics Association, who are in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games. In response to the letter sent by hockey coach Roelant Oltmans to IOA complaining about the lack of basic facilities in the Games Village, Batra shared a picture in which players are made to live in 'unfurnished' apartments. Batra shared this image on social media targeting Mehta and the IOA.
The Indian women's hockey team will return to the Olympics after a long gap of 36 years as it qualified for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday, after England made it to the final of the ongoing EuroHockey Championships in London.
The former India coach will prepare the country's men's and women's teams for the 2004 Olympics.
Rohidas was sent off the pitch almost 40 minutes from the final hooter after his stick unintentionally hit a rival player.
Rehan Butt, Pakistan's assistant coach believes that India and Pakistan should play more matches.
Pakistan are drawn in Pool 'A' with Chinese Taipei, Japan and Singapore while holders India are in Pool 'B' with Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, for the April 20-29 tournament.
Barely days after quitting as chief coach of the national men's hockey team, Terry Walsh has expressed a willingness to return to India provided Hockey India shows some "desire" to work out a "viable solution".
'I play in the present without thinking about the buzz in the background,' says Vivek Sagar Prasad, who has just won the FIH Rising Star of the Year award.
