Spain’s Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams Arrive in Bhubaneswar for FIH Pro League 2024/25

Bhubaneswar, 10 February 2024: The Men’s and Women’s national hockey teams of Spain have arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, ahead of their crucial matches in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25.

The Spanish Men’s team will take on hosts India on February 15 and 16, followed by a face-off against England on February 19. Meanwhile, the Women’s team is set to battle Germany on February 15 and 16 before clashing with India on February 19.

Both teams are eager to secure victories after a tough start to their campaign. The Men’s team currently sits in sixth place with just one win and a draw from four matches, while the Women’s side is in eighth place, yet to register a win in their four outings.

Speaking on arrival, Men’s team captain Alvaro Iglesias expressed his excitement about playing in India, stating, “We are very excited to return to India. We were in Australia for four games, but we need to improve, so I am hoping to win more games here.” He also highlighted the passion for hockey in India, adding, “We always love playing here because hockey is very popular, and the stadium is filled with fans.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Women’s team captain Lucia Jiminez emphasized the importance of the tournament, saying, “This (Bhubaneswar) is a really important city for hockey, and we are extremely excited to play in front of this crowd. This tournament is really important for us, and we want to be in the FIH Pro League next year, so we know it is crucial for us to win. We will try to play our best hockey to win every match.”

The India leg of the FIH Pro League will be broadcast live on Jio Cinema and Sports 18.