India lost to Belgium in the 5th-6th place match at the recently-concluded Hockey World League Final in New Delhi. They will get a chance to avenge that defeat at the sport's biggest stage — the World Cup on May 31at The Hague, Netherlands.
After opening their campaign against the Belgians in the tough Group A on the opening day of the event, India, champions in 1975, meet England in their next match at the Kyocera Stadium on June 2.
India, ranked 8th in the world in the latest rankings, meet Spain on June 5and Asian rivals Malaysia on June 7 before rounding off their league engagements against defending champions Australia on June 9.
It will only be the second time that both the men's and women's World Cups will be held at the same time and at the same location.
In all 76 matches will be played from May 31-June 15. The 16-day event will have both the men's and women's section being held simultaneously – only the second time that both the men’s and women’s events will be held at the same time and at the same location.
Six matches will be played daily in the competition that will have 12 teams in each section being divided in two pools of six teams each. Two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. The women’s semis will be played on June 12 and the men's the next day. The women's final will be played onJune 14 and the men's on June 15.
{{/usCountry}}Six matches will be played daily in the competition that will have 12 teams in each section being divided in two pools of six teams each. Two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. The women’s semis will be played on June 12 and the men's the next day. The women's final will be played onJune 14 and the men's on June 15.
{{/usCountry}}India will participate only in the men’s competition in The Hague, having qualified via the Hockey World League semifinals. India have played in all the 12 World Cup editions held so far and had finished 8th in the last edition at home in New Delhi in 2010.