Bhubaneswar: The 15th Hockey World Cup will begin tomorrow in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. Odisha is hosting the World Cup for the second time in a row. India was the host of the World Cup in 2018 as well.
16 teams from five continents will compete in the hockey epic that will last until January 29. The preliminary round matches are divided into four pools of four teams each. India is competing with England, Wales and Spain in Pool D. India’s first match is against Spain in Rourkela tomorrow night at 7 pm. India’s other matches are against England on the 15th and Wales on the 19th. India is going to the World Cup under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh. Malayali goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is in the Indian team.
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Matches are played in stadiums. Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela. Birsa Munda Stadium, India’s largest hockey stadium, was built on the initiative of the Odisha government for this World Cup.
1975
Although India has won 12 medals including eight golds in the Olympics, India has won the World Cup only once. In 1975, the Indian team led by Ajitpal Singh won the World Cup by defeating Pakistan in the final.
2018
Belgium won the World Cup in Odisha. India lost to Holland in the quarter-finals.
Poole A
Australia
Argentina
France
The. Africa
Pool B
Belgium
Germany
South Korea
Japan
Poole c
Holland
New Zealand
Malaysia
Chile
Pool d
India
England
Wales
Spain