Hyderabad: The Women’s Hockey World Cup qualifiers began on Sunday at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium, marking another major international sporting event in the Telangana capital.
Eight teams from different countries are competing in the tournament jointly organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Telangana government.
The state Sports Department completed arrangements for the event with international standards under the guidance of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Dr. M. Ramesh attended the opening day matches as the chief guest. He said hosting international tournaments in Hyderabad would inspire young sportspersons to pursue sports seriously.
Ramesh also said the police had made extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament. Telangana Sports Authority Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr. A. Sonibala Devi also attended the event.
Teams compete in Women’s Hockey World Cup qualifiers
The Women’s Hockey World Cup qualifiers feature eight teams divided into two pools competing in league matches.
Pool A includes England, Korea, Italy, and Austria, while Pool B consists of India, Scotland, Uruguay, and Wales.
The tournament began with the opening match between England and Italy at 12:45 pm on Sunday. Later matches featured Korea against Austria and Scotland against Wales.
Fans are closely watching the India versus Uruguay match scheduled for 7:30 pm. Supporters hope the Indian women’s team will deliver a strong performance on home ground.
League matches will take place on March 8, 9, and 11. Teams will have rest days on March 10 and 12 before the knockout stage.
The semi-finals are scheduled for March 13, while the final match will be played on March 14 at 7:30 pm.