Tough opener for Indian women in World Cup

Chennai: India will take on the Olympic and World champion, the Netherlands, in its first match in Pool B of the women’s hockey World Cup to be held at Rosario (Argentina) from August 29 to September 11.

Meanwhile, the men’s team will also face off against the Netherlands in the opening match of the four-nation men’s hockey tournament to be hosted by the German Hockey Federation (DHB) at Hamburg from July 2-4.

The schedule: Men’s four-nation tournament: July 2: India vs. Netherlands; Japan vs. Germany; July 3: Netherlands vs. Japan; India vs. Germany; July 5: India vs. Japan; Germany vs. Netherlands.

Women’s World Cup (India’s matches only): August 30: vs. Netherlands; Sept.1: vs. Australia; Sept. 3: vs. Germany; Sept. 5: vs. Japan; Sept. 7: vs. New Zealand .