New Delhi, July 25 (H.S.): The Indian men’s hockey team will tour Australia in August for a four-match series at the Perth Hockey Stadium from August 15 to 21, as part of the preparations for the Asia Cup 2025. The eighth-ranked Indian team will compete against the sixth-ranked Australian team in matches scheduled for August 15, 16, 19, and 21.
In their recent FIH Pro League 2024-25 encounters, Australia won both matches against India 3-2. However, India previously claimed a historic 3-2 victory over Australia in the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking their first Olympic win against them since 1972. Australia leads in the overall head-to-head, with 35 wins out of 51 matches since 2013, compared to India’s 9 wins and 7 draws.
This series is vital for the Hero Asia Cup 2025, planned in Rajgir, Bihar from August 29 to September 7, which offers an opportunity for direct qualification for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. Indian head coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of this tour for preparation, asserting that facing a strong opponent like Australia will be a significant challenge. The initial matches will help in player selection, while the final two will finalize the squad for the Asia Cup.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
