Hockey World Cup 2023: India drawn with England, Spain, Wales

India hockey team. Pic/ PTI

Indian men's hockey team were handed a draw for the World Cup 2023 to be held in Odisha after they were placed alongside England, Spain and Wales in Pool D. Placed at the world number five position, India are the highest-ranked team in the group. Despite being the highest ranked in their group securing a place in the quarterfinals won't be easy for the hosts. India's group is quite tough. But with the team playing under home conditions, they are expected to play excellently at home.

The games between India and England are often been high-scoring, with England having an advantage in most of the major events. The group stage winners will advance straight to the quarterfinals while the other remaining teams placed second and third will have to play crossover matches to decide their future.

In Pool A, Commonwealth Games champion Australia is clubbed along with Argentina, France and Chile. Pool B includes reigning champion Belgium, Asian champion South Korea, fourth-ranked Germany and Japan. The Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia and Chile are placed in Pool C.

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It is one of the biggest events in world hockey next year. The Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 will take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar and at the Bisra Munda Stadium in Rourkela from January 13 to 29, 2023. While the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar hosted the previous edition of the World Cup which was lauded world-over for its exceptional infrastructure and Hockey India's immaculate execution of the event as hosts, this time the coveted event will also be held in the heart of Odisha's hockey belt - Rourkela, a region famous for its hockey prowess having produced numerous international hockey players. This is the second consecutive World Cup to be held in India - and fourth overall.

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