India and Pakistan will clash yet again at a major international hockey tournament on June 26, after being drawn in the same pool of the Fintro Hockey World League semifinals (men and women) in Antwerp, Belgium.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from June 20-July 5. The 10 teams in both sections have been divided into two pools of five each, and are a mixture of automatic qualifiers courtesy of their world rankings (at the time of entry).
India and Pakistan have been clubbed in Pool A along with world champion Australia, while host Belgium has Malaysia and Great Britain for company in Pool B. India will begin its campaign against France on the opening day, while Pakistan plays Poland.
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The event is a qualifying round for the 2016 Rio Olympics, making it an important one for the women’s team. For the men, however, there is less at stake. The tournament will only be a good preparatory event since the men’s team has already qualified by virtue of winning the Asian Games last year.
The podium finishers in the 10-team event for both men and women will qualify depending on continental results. It will be a tough task for the women, though. India has been drawn in Pool B along with Australia, while New Zealand hosts Belgium and Poland.
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Reigning world and Olympic champion the Netherlands and Asian champion Korea are in Pool A.
The teams: Men: Pool A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Poland, France; Pool B: Belgium, Great Britain, Malaysia, Ireland, China.
Women: Pool A: The Netherlands, Korea, Japan, Italy, Azerbaijan; Pool B: Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, India, Poland.