Focus on Pro League with eye on future

Women's hockey team will be seeking improved show while youngsters from men's side will be looking to step up

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

ODISHA may have signed off on a fairly successful revamped Hockey India League but the season is just beginning for both senior national teams.

The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, no stranger to the sport, will host a round of Pro league games starting on Saturday, with both sides in action (the women's side will kick-start proceedings with a match vs England with the men facing Spain later in the evening).

Even if there are no global hockey events this year, it starts a fairly important season for both sides leading into next year's World Cup as well as the Asian Games.

With the Pro League itself doubling up as a qualifier for the quadrennial bash in 2026, both sides have made it their stated aim to rubber-stamp their place there (Netherlands and Belgium are co-hosting the event) at the first time of asking.

Actually doing it is the hard bit, especially the women's side, whose opponents - the likes of Germany, Netherlands, Spain among others - are a cut above.