India play Italy in first match of hockey Olympic qualifier

DISCUSS1LAUSANNE: Top ranked India will open their campaign against Italy on the opening day of the first hockey Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in New Delhi from February 18-26, next year.

India, the highest-ranked team in the tournament at 10, have been grouped along side Canada, France, Poland, Italy and the United States in the men’s section of the first of the six Olympic Qualification tournaments to be held at New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

India will next play USA on February 19, followed by matches against France (February 21), Canada (February 22) and Poland (February 24) in the group stages. The final classification matches will be played after a days rest on February 26.

Meanwhile, in the first women’s qualifying tournament India have been clubbed alongside South Africa, Italy, Canada, Ukraine and Poland. In the women’s section, India will play Ukraine in their first match on February 18, followed by games against Canada (February 19), Poland (February 21), South Africa (February 22) and Italy (February 24).

Orissa to meet Haryana in final

Pune: Haryana will face Orissa in the final of the first Hockey India Junior men’s national hockey on Thursday after the two teams beat Jharkhand and Punjab respectively in the semis. Haryana won 5-3, while Orissa overcame Punjab 4-2.