HYDERABAD (India), Oct 16: Indian men’s hockey team is looking forward to a back-to-back title in inaugural Afro-Asian Games, beginning in Hyderabad on Oct 23.

Asian giants India and Pakistan are clubbed together in Group B and tipped to progress to semifinals. Egypt and Zimbabwe, both lowly teams, are other teams in the group.

While Pakistan play Zimbabwe in their first match, India clash with Egypt in the fourth and last match of the opening day’s programme, on Oct 23.

The other matches of the day are between Group A teams, Ghana and Korea, and Malaysia and South Africa.

India will be without captain Dhanraj Pillay, who has been rested for the Games along with six other players including Baljit Singh Dhillon and utility half-back Baljit Singh Saini.

Earlier, Afro-Asian Games organising committee had appealed to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to include Pillay for the Games but since Pakistan and Korea too will be fielding second string teams they did not pursue their request.

With hockey tournament at the Games not being considered significant enough ahead of Olympic qualifiers and apprehensions about its success prevailing among all national sports federations, IHF is keeping its fingers crossed as a galaxy of personalities, including King Azlan Shah of Malaysia, and FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman have accepted the invitation to attend the Games.

IHF sources say they had to persuade both Malaysia and Pakistan to participate. Malaysia had to cancel their tour of Australia while Pakistan were in no mood to visit India.

The men’s hockey draw: Group A: Ghana, Korea, Malaysia and South Africa, Group B: Pakistan, India, Egypt and Zimbabwe

Schedule:

Oct 23: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe; Ghana vs Korea; Malaysia vs South Africa and India vs Egypt

Oct 24: Rest day, Oct 25: Malaysia vs Ghana; Pakistan vs Egypt; Korea vs South Africa and India vs Zimbabwe

Oct 26: Rest day

Oct.27: South Africa vs Ghana; Egypt vs Zimbabwe; Korea vs Malaysia and India vs Pakistan

Oct 28: Rest day

Oct 29: Placing matches and semifinals - Group A1 vs Group B2 and Group B1 vs Group A

Oct 30: Rest day

Oct 31: Placing matches, third and fourth place match.

Final: 1900 hrs.—PPI