The Kookaburras face a tough second round assignment when they take on a young and highly-talented India in what will be their first night match of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
After a topsy-turvy opening encounter with host nation Japan, Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch said his world number one side would be foolish to underestimate the rising stars of world hockey.
Rightly so. With eight gold, one silver and two bronze medals to their name, few nations have the Olympic record of India when it comes to men’s hockey.
Although it has been more than 40 years since they claimed their most recent gold at the 1980 Moscow Games, the improving form of the former powerhouse nation has escalated their profile leading into the Tokyo competition.
India’s resurgence to the top of world hockey, under the guidance of former Australian international Graham Reid, has the Aussies on alert heading into their first night match of the Games.
“They are a big threat,” Batch says of the team, which drew and claimed an ensuing penalty shootout bonus point over the Kookaburras in one of their two Pro-League encounters last February.
“They are playing confidently; in the Pro League last year and matches since then they have improved a lot.
“India is a very talented, young team and will cause a threat.”
India’s record in the FIH Pro League heralded the side’s return to being among the top nations of world hockey as they finished in the top four with victories over reigning world champions Belgium, Netherlands and defending Olympic champions Argentina.
The Kookaburras were pushed in their opening round match against host nation Japan trailing at half time to claim a 5-3 victory.
The night match is the first evening encounter for the world number one ranked Kookaburras with Batch sighting the humidity as a challenge.
“Players will have a lot to do to overcome that; it’s going to be a tiring game for sure.”
India opened their Tokyo 2020 campaign with a hard fought 3-2 win over New Zealand.
Tokyo 2020 Hockey - full schedule and results
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Men’s Hockey
- India v Kookaburras
- Sunday 25 July 2021
- Oi Stadium, Tokyo
- Start time: 6:30pm local (7.30pm AEST)
- Broadcast: LIVE on 7Plus
Kookaburras v India
- Played 128; Kookaburras 85, Draws 20, India 23
Last time they met
- 22-Feb-20 FIH Pro League (Bhubaneswar)
- Kookaburras 2 (1) (Mitton 23', Zalewski 46')
- India 2 (3) (Ramandeep Singh 25', Hardik Singh 27')
Kookaburras squad: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 25.Trent Mitton, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
Kookaburras Schedule (full hockey competition schedule)
- Tuesday 27 July (9.30am local, 10.30am AEST) Argentina v Kookaburras
- Wednesday 28 July (9.15pm local, 10.15pm AEST) Kookaburras v New Zealand
- Friday 30 July (10.00am local, 11.00am AEST) Kookaburras v Spain
Catriona Dixon
#HaveAGo at Hockey
Hockey
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