India meet Pakistan in Champions Trophy opener

Breda (Netherlands) March 15 (IANS) India will take on Pakistan in the opening match of the Men s Hockey Champions Trophy 2018 which will be held here from June 23 to July 1.

That match will be followed by another eye-catching fixture with home favourites and European champions Netherlands taking on Olympic and Pan American champions Argentina.

A sensational opening day of action will be rounded off by the meeting between Australia and Belgium who will meet in what is certain to be a hugely competitive fixture between two of the best attacking sides in the world.

Other schedule highlights include a showdown between European neighbours Netherlands and Belgium on June 24 while a rerun of the 2016 Olympics final between Argentina and Belgium is slated for June 26.

Argentina will be looking to reverse their loss to Australia in December s Men s Odisha Hockey World League Final on the last day of the round-robin on June 30.

The Netherlands and India the champions of Europe and Asia respectively will clash on June 30.

--IANS
ajb/mr