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2024 Men's International Festival of Hockey
The 2024 Men's International Festival of Hockey was the third edition of the International Festival of Hockey, a field hockey tournament held in Australia. The tournament took place in Perth from 6–13 April 2024.[1] The national teams of Australia and India will compete in a five-match test series.[2][3] Australia won the tournament, defeating India in all five matches for a 5–0 sweep of the series.[4] BackgroundThis was the fifth test series between Australia and India in 27 years.[5] The last series was held in Adelaide, Australia in 2022, which ended in their 4–1 victory to Australia.[6] India's last series win against Australia came in 2014, also in Perth.[5] As per an initial memorandum of understanding between the two nations, the series was scheduled to be held in India, but was shifted to Australia, considering most FIH tournaments, including the following Hockey World Cup and the Olympic Games were to be held outside India.[7] The series was seen as preparation to India and Australia's Olympic Games campaign to be held later that year,[8] where the two teams were drawn in the same group. India went to Australia on the back of five wins in a total of eight games earlier that year. The two teams faced off twice, both in the FIH Pro League, with Australia winning both matches; the first by a 6–4 margin, and the second by 3–0 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in regulation time.[5] Australia entered the series in good form, winning seven out of their eight matches in 2024.[9] The FIH Pro League was the last international tournament that the two teams featured in; the India-leg concluded in February that year.[7] Australia also had a superior head-to-head record over India in the decade prior to the series. Since 2013, they had won 28 times, lost 8 and drawn 7 in the 43 games played against India. However, in the FIH World Ranking, they were ranked fifth, one below India.[10] Before flying to Australia, India's squad held a three-week preparatory camp in Bhubaneswar.[5] India's head coach Craig Fulton stated that the tour was "crucial" in the team's preparation for the Olympics and added that "Australia is the form team at the moment so it's always nice to test yourself against them."[11] SquadsThe national squads were announced prior to the tournament:[1] Head Coach:
Head Coach:
OfficialsThe following umpires were appointed by Hockey Australia and the FIH to officiate the tournament:[12]
ResultsAll times are local (AWST). Standings
Source: FIH
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored.[13] (H) Hosts Fixtures
GoalscorersThere were 24 goals scored in 5 matches, for an average of 4.8 goals per match. 7 goals 3 goals 2 goals 1 goal Source: FIH References
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