Hockey World Cup 2023: New-look India aims to kickstart campaign with a win over Spain
The HinduWhen India regained an Olympic medal after 41 years in Tokyo, it re-ignited hopes that a World Cup medal too was not impossible. A third-place finish at the Asian Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup with largely young and inexperienced squads meant while the bench was tested, the senior players had to make do with the handful of Pro League games for match practice. Brand new stadium None of it would matter when India lines up against Spain for its opening World Cup game at the brand new, still-getting-finishing-touches Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Friday. India won the meeting at the Tokyo Olympics, but since then the teams have shared honours in the last four Pro League games — all in Bhubaneswar. In captain Alvaro Iglesias, Enrique Gonzalez and Argentine import Joaquin Menini, Spain has the experience and in Max Caldas, a coach who knows India well — he was with the Dutch last time around, ending India’s campaign in the quarterfinals and reaching the final.