Sardar Singh from India is the player to look out for in the tournament

7 January 2014, New Delhi:  Australia had an early morning practice session at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium today with all the players looking fit and ready for the Final of Hero Hockey World League.  Just six months ahead of the World Cup the entire team is taking the League very seriously and understands that their first match with Belgium will be very crucial on 10^th January 2014.

Speaking on the tournament, Assistant Coach, Australia, Graham Reid said “I am expecting the team to stay till the end and the win title. Germany is the strongest contender but our first match against the Belgians is very critical as they have shown tremendous improvement in their game in the recent past. As for India they have good players like Sardar Singh and hence should not be taken for granted”

Speaking on the upcoming tournament Captain Mark Knowles, Australia said “we have come here to win and it’s an important tournament for us as it is just 6 months before we will be playing for the World Cup. Germany is the Olympic Champions and their experiences are the strength and are the strongest rivals for us in this League. The Indian team is the next team to look out for as they are nippy strikers and are very skilful.”

Australia

Current FIH World Ranking: 2

How they qualified: 2nd place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final, Rotterdam (NED)

About the team: Ric Charlesworth’s Australia are always among the front runners of every tournament that they enter and have an abundance of talent at their disposal. The reigning world champions are fully determined to defend their title in The Hague, and will be arriving in India will the sole aim of becoming the first ever winners of the men’s Hockey World League. The side were beaten into second place at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final in Rotterdam when they lost in a dramatic shoot-out against Belgium, but that will not change their status as one of the title favourites. The Kookaburras come into the event as Oceania champions, having defeated host nation New Zealand in the tournament final to take the trophy.