Draw for Hockey World Cup 2018 in Odisha announced

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Hosts India have been grouped in Pool C alongside Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalists Belgium, South Africa and Canada for the upcoming Hockey World Cup 2018 scheduled to be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from November 28 to December 16 this year.

The Indian team will kick off its campaign against South Africa on November 28 followed by matches against Belgium on December 2 and Canada on December 8.

Pool matches will continue till December 9 with two matches to be played every day at 5PM and 7PM Indian Standard Time. Sixteen teams will battle it out during the 19-day tourney for the world title with four teams clubbed in each group.

Rio 2016 Olympic champions and World No 2 Argentina will compete with New Zealand, Spain and France in Pool A while reigning world champions and number one team Australia will have to face England, Ireland and China in Pool B.

Termed as the group of death, Pool D is likely to witness tough contest with three-time world champion the Netherlands, two-time champion Germany, Pakistan and Malaysia battling it out for a place in the knock-outs.

The quarterfinals will be played on December 12 and December 13. The bronze medal match and the Final will be played on December 16.