CWG hockey schedule released

NEW DELHI: India has been clubbed with Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Scotland in Group ‘A’ of the men’s section in the hockey event of the Commonwealth Games to be staged at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from October 4 to 14.

The Indian women also find themselves clubbed with Australia, apart from South Africa, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago.

The hockey event will feature 10 teams each in the men’s and women’s competition. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

The Indian women will open their campaign with a match against Scotland at 6 p.m. on October 4. On October 5, the Indian men will play Malaysia at 7 p.m. The India-Pakistan clash has been kept for Sunday, October 10, at 7 p.m.

Matches will be played on two grounds, and will be starting as early as 8.30 a.m. on some days. The women’s semifinals are scheduled for October 11 at 11 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. The women’s final will be on October 13 at 1 p.m.

The men’s semifinals will be on October 12 at 11 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., with the Pool ‘A’ topper playing the first match. The men’s final will be at 11.30 a.m. on October 14.

Overall, hockey will feature 54 matches, and each day will have four to eight matches, till the semifinals.

The groupings: Men: Group ‘A’: Australia, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Scotland. Group ‘B’: England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago.

Women: Pool ‘A’: Australia, South Africa, India, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago. Pool ‘B’: England, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Wales.

The fixtures (featuring India): Men: October 5: India vs. Malaysia (7 p.m.). October 7: vs. Australia (4 p.m.). October 9: vs. Scotland (7 p.m.). October 10: vs. Pakistan (7 p.m.).

Women: October 4: India vs. Scotland (6 p.m.). October 6: vs. Australia (1.30 p.m.). October 8: vs. Trinidad and Tobago (10.30 a.m.). October 9: vs. South Africa (9 p.m.) . — Special Correspondent