Raipur: The Australian hockey team who are visiting India for the three-match Test series with India and the much awaited Hero Hockey World League Final 2015, received a warm welcome at the Raipur International Airport upon arrival on Saturday afternoon.
Australia, ranked number one in the FIH World Rankings are playing a three-match Test series against India in Rajnandgaon and Raipur in Chhattisgarh from 19 November 2015. They are also scheduled to compete in the eight-nation Hero Hockey World League Final 2015 which is also being hosted in Raipur later this month.
The team upon arrival received a traditional welcome with a small cultural performance from locals amidst a large group of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of the much acclaimed and respected Australian men’s hockey team.
“India has always been one of those places we want to come back to. The warm welcome that we have received always has been overwhelming and we are keen to display top level hockey in front of the fans here. Raipur is a new destination but we all know that we are set to play against an audience who understand and follow the sport and that’s what makes the competition all the more exciting and competitive,” said Graham Reid, Head Coach, Hockey Australia.
Australia will take on India in the first test on 19th November 2015 at Rajnandgaon, which would be followed by the last two matches being played at the newly inaugurated Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium, Raipur on the 22nd and 23rd November respectively.