Commonwealth Games 2022 hockey: India, New Zealand look to challenge Australia’s dominance

The Australian men’s and women’s hockey teams, the top-ranked sides in the Commonwealth Games 2022, are hot favourites to extend their supremacy at the quadrennial event.

Both the men’s and women’s hockey events at CWG 2022 will be held at the University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre in the UK, starting from Friday.

Although field hockey has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998, the domination of the Australian men’s and women’s teams has been a consistent factor.

The Australian men’s hockey team won gold at all the previous six editions of the CWG. The women’s hockey team, currently world No. 3, has won the title on four occasions and has a silver and bronze.

Hockey stars to watch

The Australian men’s hockey team has a mix of youth and experienced players like Eddie Ockenden, who will be featuring in his fourth Commonwealth Games.

However, unlike the previous editions, the Australian men’s hockey team is expected to face strong resistance from Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists India at Birmingham 2022.

India’s full-strength squad includes one of the world’s top goal-keepers PR Sreejesh and will be led by midfielder Manpreet Singh.

Both India and Australia, however, are placed in different pools. Australia, world No. 1, will be challenged by dark horses Pakistan in Pool A. India, meanwhile, are clubbed with hosts England in Pool B which also has debutants Ghana.

Overall, 10 teams, divided into two pools, will participate in each of the men’s and women’s events. The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals while the rest of the teams will play classification matches.

Open field for women's title

The Australian women’s hockey team, who lost to its trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the final at the Commonwealth Games 2018, will be led by Stephanie Kershaw in the midfield. Jocelyn Bartram will be Australia’s lynchpin in defence.

The Australian women’s team has won the Commonwealth Games hockey tournament in four of the six editions so far (1998, 2006, 2010 and 2014). Australia clinched bronze in 2002 and a silver in 2018.

New Zealand women are the reigning Commonwealth Games champions and will be looking to bounce back after finishing fifth at the FIH Women’s World Cup earlier this month.

The 2002 champions India too will be searching for a medal. India finished third in the FIH Pro League but faltered at the recent World Cup in Spain and the Netherlands to finish ninth.

With players such as penalty corner specialists Gurjit Kaur, goalkeeper and captain Savita Punia and upcoming youngster Lalremsiami, expect India to finish on the podium.

Hosts England also have a team capable of springing surprises. Apart from heavyweights Australia, England are the only team to have secured a medal in each of the six editions of the women’s competition.

England women did well to make the quarter-finals of the women’s hockey World Cup but suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to eventual silver medallists, Argentina.

The hosts boast a side that includes the likes of defenders Hollie Pearne-Webb, Laura Unsworth and Giselle Ansley. Hannah Martin, Lily Owsley and Ellie Rayer will try and score upfront.

And also with the backing of the home crowd, the England women’s hockey team, who have lost in the finals three times, will be aiming for gold.

The women’s hockey final at the Commonwealth Games 2022 will be played on August 7 followed by the men’s summit clash on August 8.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Hockey pools

Women

Pool A: England, India, Canada, Wales, Ghana

Pool B: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, Kenya

Men

Pool A: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Scotland

Pool B: India, England, Canada, Wales, Ghana

Commonwealth Games 2022: Hockey schedule

Women’s hockey

July 29 to August 4

Pool A and B matches

August 5

Classification matches (7/8 and 9/10 places)

Semi-final 1

Semi-final 2

August 7

Classification match (5/6 places)

Bronze medal match

Gold medal match

Men’s hockey

July 29 to August 4

Pool A and B matches

August 6, Saturday

Classification matches (7/8 and 9/10 places)

Semi-final 1

Semi-final 2

August 7, Sunday

Classification match (5/6 places)

August 8, Monday

Bronze medal match

Gold medal match