MEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland's most dangerous opponents in the World League Round Two competition in February will be India, the only team with a world ranking that is higher in the six-team pool.
Ireland kick off the New Delhi tournament on February 18th against Bangladesh, at 40 in the world the second lowest ranked team in the competition. The Irish team then has a rest day before playing against the lowest-ranked team, Fiji.
That’s good news for the Irish, who should by then have gained some momentum before meeting India in the third pool match on February 21st.
India are ranked four places higher than Ireland’s standing of 15. Ireland’s last two matches are against Oman (36) and China (18). The squad will be picked by new coach Andrew Meredith after this weekend’s training session in Belfast.
Five continents
The league features national teams from across all five continents. It’s a four-round event spread over two years and will feature more than 60 national men and women sides. The top eight nations in the world come into the picture later this year.
TOMORROW – Leinster Senior League – Division One: Three Rock Rovers v Glenanne 2.0, Grange Road; YMCA v Pembroke Wanderers 1.30; Alexandra College; Avoca v Corinthians 12.30pm; Newpark School; Monkstown v Railway Union postponed; UCD v Fingal 1.0, Belfield; Division Two: Clontarf v Rathgar 12.30, Mountemple; Kilkenny v Dublin University 1.0, Kilkenny College; Suttonians v Weston 1.0, Sutton
