India men’s captain Harmanpreet Singh says the two-match bilateral series against Olympic silver medallists Germany will help in “reviving the spirit” of the sport in capital Delhi.
The series will be held at the Major Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi on Oct 23 and 24 and will bring men’s international hockey back to the capital after a decade.
The last match was played in 2014 during the Hockey World League Final. These matches will represent a rare chance for Test hockey to take place following the launch of the FIH Pro League.
“This series is not just about the two teams playing. It’s about reviving the spirit of hockey in Delhi. We hope this will inspire more young players from the region to take up the game,” Harmanpreet said.
“Playing in front of home fans in Delhi after so many years is truly special for us as a team. The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium holds a lot of history and memories and to lead the team here will be a huge honour.”
The captain said the series would be an opportunity to test the team further after its twinning run in the Asian Champions Trophy in China earlier this month and on the back of Olympic bronze.
He added: “Germany is one of the top teams in world hockey, and playing against them will be a great challenge for us. It’s important for our preparation as we gear up for major tournaments ahead.
“We are working hard, and this series will give us the opportunity to test ourselves against a very strong opponent.”
