The Indian junior (U-21) men’s hockey team is gearing up for an exposure tour of Belgium, scheduled from July 7 to 17. During this tour, they will compete in six matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The tour is crucial for the team’s preparation under the guidance of newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez ahead of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup.
India will face Austria and Belgium twice each, along with one match against Germany and the Netherlands. The majority of the matches, five out of six, will take place at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium. The final match against the Netherlands will be held at the Hockey Center of Excellence in Antwerp.
Starting their campaign against Austria on July 7, the Indian team will have a quick turnaround to face the same opponents again on July 8. Subsequently, they will challenge hosts Belgium on July 10, followed by matches against Germany on July 13 and Belgium on July 14. The tour will culminate with a game against the Netherlands on July 17.
This exposure tour presents a valuable opportunity for the young Indian squad to test their skills against some of Europe’s top hockey nations. It will enable them to gain essential international experience, which will be beneficial for their upcoming commitments later this year.
Coach Soyez expressed his enthusiasm for the tour, emphasizing the significance of this experience in understanding the players better and establishing a strong team dynamic. He highlighted the importance of such tours in fostering team cohesion and developing a unified team identity.
Emphasizing the significance of the upcoming matches, Coach Soyez stressed the importance of these games in assessing the team’s performance levels, their ability to execute strategies under pressure, and their resilience against high-quality opponents. These matches will provide a realistic preview of the challenges they may face in major competitions.
The Belgium tour is anticipated to offer the Indian junior team invaluable exposure to diverse playing styles and competitive environments as they prepare for the Junior Asia Cup.
