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Host India has been placed in Pool-D, along with England, Spain and Wales for the 15th FIH Hockey Mens World Cup, scheduled to be organised by the Government of Odisha, under the aegis of International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India (HI) in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from 13 to 29 January 2023.
The draw ceremony for the four Pools was held at the Convention Centre in Lok Sewa Bhawan, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) today. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, FIH Acting President Seif Ahmed, Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Hockey India CoA Member Dr S Y Quraishi and Zafar Iqbal, Hockey Promotion Council of Odisha Chairman Dilip Tirkey, Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Secretary to Chief Minister VK Pandian, Sports Department Secretary R Vineel Krishna attended the draw ceremony.
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Pool A is headed up by current FIH World Rankings (WR) No 1 Australia, who got the bronze medal at the last World Cup in 2018. They will play 2016 Olympic Champions Argentina (WR:7), France (WR:11), playing their fourth World Cup, and African Champions South Africa (WR:14).
In Pool B, reigning World Champions Belgium (WR:2) are the top seed and they were drawn to face 2002 and 2006 World Champions Germany (WR:4). Both European teams will face two representatives from Asia, namely Korea (WR:12) and Japan (WR:17).
Pool C will feature the finalists from the last edition, the Netherlands (WR:3), at the head of the group. They will come up against the other Oceania representative New Zealand (WR:9), Malaysia (WR:10), playing their ninth World Cup, and newcomers Chile (WR:23), participating for the very first time in a FIH Hockey Mens World Cup.
In Pool D, hosts India are the highest ranked side (WR:5). They will face England (WR: 6), which they have recently met at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 for a thrilling encounter (4-4), two-time silver medallists (1971, 1998) Spain (WR:8) and Wales (WR:16), who, like Chile, will play their maiden World Cup.
As already announced, India, Australia, Belgium and Netherlands were placed on the first row of their corresponding Pools based on the FIH World Rankings as per 1 June 2022. The draw proceedings were conducted by FIH CEO Thierry Weil.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: “We are always very proud to welcoming the best hockey teams and players of the world for such an outstanding event. This time, the appetite is even bigger since, on top of our magnificent Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar – where so many wonderful sports stories have already been written – we are inviting the world to a brand-new arena, namely the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. This new stadium is a further testimony of our strong commitment towards hockey. Congratulations and best wishes to all teams!”
FIH Acting President Seif Ahmed said: “We ca not wait to see the best teams in the world in action in the new “jewel” of hockey, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, which, alongside the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar, will play host to the 2023 FIH Odisha Hockey Mens World Cup. I wish to renew our sincerest thanks to Hockey India and to the State of Odisha for hosting the 15th edition of this World Cup.”
Belgium are the current World Champions, having defeated the Netherlands in the Final of the 2018 edition, which was held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
POOLS FOR FIH HOCKEY MENS WORLD CUP 2023:
Pool A: Australia, Argentina, France, South Africa
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, Korea, Japan
Pool C: Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile
Pool D: India, England, Spain, Wales
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TOP: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik speaks at the pool-draw ceremony in Bhubaneswar on 8 September 2022. Behind him in the frame is his Secretary VK Pandian.
RIGHT: The glittering trophy for the 15th FIH Hockey Mens World Cup was on display at the draw ceremony for the four pools in Bhubaneswar on 8 September 2022.
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