ROURKELA: Hope.

Thats the main theme of the 2023 Mens Hockey World Cup.

Theres little else than hope that a 48-year wait involves.

The story is the very same.

The expectations are comparable.

The times, though, are a lot different.

In 1975, when India won its only World Cup, the group was world-beater.

In 2023, after barren World Cup looks spread throughout nearly five decades, hope is the only familiar aspect.On paper, however, there is a welcome significant difference from any World Cup India played since 1982 in Bombay.

As the bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, this World Cup will be the first time that an Indian team will play as a medallist from the last Olympics.Just 526 days after winning bronze at the Tokyo Games, India will take on Spain to open their World Cup project on Friday at the multi-million Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium (BMHS) in Rourkela-- a jaw-dropping phenomenon worth more than Rs 250 crores.The BMHS has been the centre of tourist attraction in the accumulation to the World Cup-- for its splendor in addition to the ongoing building activity even on the day before the competition begins.

However things that matter one of the most remain in preparedness to raise the curtain over the tournament.The 15th edition of the guyss World Cup opened with a starry event on January 12, but for some reason not at the two World Cup places.

It was held in Cuttack, which surprised many.The competition will open initially at Bhubaneswars Kalinga Stadium, the co-host for the first ever twin-city maless World Cup, with two afternoon video games on Friday.

Rourkela will host the two evening fixtures of the opening day, including Indias first swimming pool match against Spain, which begins at 1900 IST.The world No.

6 Indian group, put in Pool D together with England, Spain and debutants Wales, gave final touches to its preparations on Thursday-- as coach Graham Reid ran last-minute checks focused mostly on the protectors positions inside the circle and the penalty-corner routines.The penalty corners is an area of India captain and ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, who replaced Manpreet Singh as skipper in the later half of 2022.

The analyses of Indias team have actually revolved around the thin back-up for Harmanpreet in the drag-flick department, as the other professional Jugraj Singh has actually been put amongst the two reserves.But Harmanpreet varies, putting his weight behind vice-captain Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar and local kid Nilam Sanjeep Xess as capable options to convert charge corners.

I would state we have good drag-flickers.

We have four in the group.

We have variations and need to use those well, stated the Indian skipper.

On paper Indias toughest pool game seems to be versus England on Jan 15, prior to they conclude their pool engagements on Jan 19 versus Wales in Bhubaneswar.

Spains perseverance can never be ignored, specifically after they roped in the clever Max Caldas as coach last year.The Spaniards, nevertheless, are banking on youth, which is in stark contrast to India who have players like PR Sreejesh playing in his fourth World Cup and 3rd on Indian soil.

The Spanish group does have gamers like Joaquin Menini, the Argentine who won the 2016 Rio Olympics gold but changed to Spain after a fallout with the Argentina federation.

Beware of youth; they have the ability to perform much higher than what perhaps they think they can, and there is no fear.

They have absolutely nothing to lose.

You much better watch out for those sorts of teams.

Thats the reality, stated India coach Reid on Spains young squad.

I think experience is a bit overrated often, particularly in a big competition like this.

We just need to play our best.

Thats the crucial to this tournament for us, about carrying out where we can and being able to accomplish that, Reid, who signed up with the Indian team as coach after the last World Cup, added.It will be also fascinating to see how the Spanish team, which has begun making its presence felt once again in world hockey, manages the pressure of playing in a stadium packed with fans screaming for India.Reid stated while crowd assistance does motivate the players, it can also end up being a double-edged sword if not soaked in.

It has to do with staying in the minute.

Thats what we talk a lot about, remaining focused.

If pressure is getting to you, if you have nerves, it means that you are off-task.

It indicates you are either thinking about something that is going to take place in the future or something that has happened in the past, stated the India coach.

So its a matter of understanding and getting to that point where you can let it inspire you, as you state, but you dont review the top.

Its easier said than done, when you understand you have to finish on the top to prevent the pressure of that additional match in the crossovers.The top group from each of the four pools gets a direct entry into the quarterfinals, while the groups ending up second and third play the crossover matches.Indias swimming pool is without a doubt the most difficult of the 4, with Australia anticipated to top Pool A.

There could be a tussle between protecting champions Belgium and Germany for the leading area in Pool B, and the Netherlands would expensive their opportunities of a direct entry into the quarters from Pool C.That leaves Pool D the most open, and possibly the swimming pool of death, with England, India and Spain all in a race that may end in a photo-finish for the top spot.Friday is a wedding day and the steel city of Rourkela, which has been decked up for the World Cup, is anticipated to be buzzing in and around the enormous bowl of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.

And If India have actually learnt their lessons well and can recreate Tokyo in Odisha, a longstanding hope will get fulfilled and an unpleasant wait will end on January 29.