<p>Bengaluru: At 15 points after eight matches in the first leg of the FIH Pro League, the Indian men’s hockey team begin their second leg in Europe by taking on the formidable Netherlands at their home in Amstelveen on Saturday. </p>.<p>On the points table, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side stand third behind England and Belgium who have 16 points each out of their share of eight games respectively. </p>.<p>India have never won the tournament and the stakes for finishing on top, this season, are as high as earning direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup - co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. </p>.<p>“I think it’s pretty clear that one way of securing a World Cup qualification is by winning this tournament,” offered head coach Craig Fulton in a pre-match online media interaction on Friday.</p>.<p>“If it doesn’t work out this way then we have the Asia Cup in Bihar (Rajgir) in August. But yeah, we want to try and finish as high as we can and gain maximum points. We are fully prepared to take on the quality sides in the coming days.” </p>.Chetrri's blueprint for uplifting women's football .<p>Keeping in mind the tough challenge they are up against, the team underwent a rigorous camp for nearly three months at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru. The main focus was on strength and conditioning to not only get the players to be fit and fast but make them stronger. Apart from the Netherlands, India will play Argentina, Australia and Belgium in two matches each. </p>.<p>“We will be playing six games in nine days. That’s a lot of hockey. So coping physically is vital for the players,” said Fulton.</p>.<p>The strategy for the eight matches remains taking one game at a time with the focal point being conversion of penalty corners and field goals while upping their defensive structure and attacking shapes, said both Fulton and Harmanpreet. </p>.<p>A test run of this on-field agenda was experimented when the team flew to Ireland to train and play three matches (one loss, two wins in India’s favour) over six days before landing in the Netherlands. </p>.<p>“Ireland is a team that plays man-to-man for a full 60 minutes. So, the three matches were good prep for us because Holland also has a similar style of play,” pointed Fulton. </p>.<p>Speaking about the niggles in his ankle and wrist that troubled him during the Hockey India League and the first half of the FIH Pro League here in India, Harmanpreet said the break over the last few months gave him enough time for rehabilitation and recover completely.</p>.<p>“I reached SAI (Bengaluru) well before the team arrived to get the rehab started with the physios. I know my targets and I can tell you that I’m fully fit and raring to go,” assured the skipper. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: At 15 points after eight matches in the first leg of the FIH Pro League, the Indian men’s hockey team begin their second leg in Europe by taking on the formidable Netherlands at their home in Amstelveen on Saturday. </p>.<p>On the points table, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side stand third behind England and Belgium who have 16 points each out of their share of eight games respectively. </p>.<p>India have never won the tournament and the stakes for finishing on top, this season, are as high as earning direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup - co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. </p>.<p>“I think it’s pretty clear that one way of securing a World Cup qualification is by winning this tournament,” offered head coach Craig Fulton in a pre-match online media interaction on Friday.</p>.<p>“If it doesn’t work out this way then we have the Asia Cup in Bihar (Rajgir) in August. But yeah, we want to try and finish as high as we can and gain maximum points. We are fully prepared to take on the quality sides in the coming days.” </p>.Chetrri's blueprint for uplifting women's football .<p>Keeping in mind the tough challenge they are up against, the team underwent a rigorous camp for nearly three months at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru. The main focus was on strength and conditioning to not only get the players to be fit and fast but make them stronger. Apart from the Netherlands, India will play Argentina, Australia and Belgium in two matches each. </p>.<p>“We will be playing six games in nine days. That’s a lot of hockey. So coping physically is vital for the players,” said Fulton.</p>.<p>The strategy for the eight matches remains taking one game at a time with the focal point being conversion of penalty corners and field goals while upping their defensive structure and attacking shapes, said both Fulton and Harmanpreet. </p>.<p>A test run of this on-field agenda was experimented when the team flew to Ireland to train and play three matches (one loss, two wins in India’s favour) over six days before landing in the Netherlands. </p>.<p>“Ireland is a team that plays man-to-man for a full 60 minutes. So, the three matches were good prep for us because Holland also has a similar style of play,” pointed Fulton. </p>.<p>Speaking about the niggles in his ankle and wrist that troubled him during the Hockey India League and the first half of the FIH Pro League here in India, Harmanpreet said the break over the last few months gave him enough time for rehabilitation and recover completely.</p>.<p>“I reached SAI (Bengaluru) well before the team arrived to get the rehab started with the physios. I know my targets and I can tell you that I’m fully fit and raring to go,” assured the skipper. </p>