New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS): India have been clubbed with World No.2 the Netherlands and World No.3 Germany in the eight-team Champions Trophy slated for Dec 6-14 in Bhubaneswar, it was announced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Monday.
Pool A will consist of 2014 World Cup winners and defending champions Australia, Commonwealth Games bronze medallists England, Euro nations silver medallists Belgium and Asian Games champions Pakistan. In Pool B, hosts India will face World Cup 2014 bronze medallists Argentina, World Cup 2014 runners-up the Netherlands and 2012 Olympic gold medallists Germany.
The Champions Trophy has a long and illustrious history since it was founded in 1978 by Pakistan's Air Marshal Nur Khan, a former president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Pakistan remain the only Asian team to win the competition to date and earned their place at the 2014 competition through their third place result in the 2012 tournament in Melbourne. Eyes will be on their performance, having missed out on qualifying for the World Cup earlier this year for the first time in their history.
The opening day of the tournament will feature all eight teams taking to the field on India's first newly built Olympic standard pink and blue hockey pitch in the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The 5,000 seater stadium also serves as the home ground for Hero Hockey India League franchise, Kalinga Lancers.
"We are excited about the tournament as we know fans in Bhubaneswar love hockey, as witnessed by the packed stands during the Hero Hockey India League earlier this year at the Kalinga Stadium," said FIH President Leandro Negre.
Narinder Batra, Hockey India Secretary General, said this is indeed a very exciting time for hockey lovers as the best teams of the world are converging in Bhubaneswar to win the coveted trophy.
"The fan following of the sport is on an upswing in India. The country is all geared up to host the international teams and witness some unforgettable hockey moments being created in Bhubaneswar in December this year," he said.
Pool A (with world rankings): Australia (1), Belgium (4), England (5), Pakistan (11)
Pool B: Netherlands (2), Germany (3), Argentina (7), India (9)
Fixture:
Dec 6: Australia vs. England, Belgium vs. Pakistan, Netherlands vs. Argentina, Germany vs. India
Dec 7: Belgium vs. Australia, England vs. Pakistan, Germany vs. Netherlands, Argentina vs. India
Dec 8: Rest day
Dec 9: Argentina vs. Germany, England vs. Belgium, Australia vs. Pakistan, Netherlands vs. India
Dec 10: Rest day
Dec 11: Quarterfinals
Dec 12: Rest day
Dec 13: Semi-finals and classification matches
Dec 14: Final and classification matches