SHOALHAVEN Heads' Kyah Gray and Gerringong's Josh Mayo, who are both in Australia's preliminary squads, could be off to Belgium early next year to contest the International Hockey Federation's Indoor World Cup.
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Hosting and organising responsibilities were recently given to the Royal Belgian Hockey Association for the World Cup, which will take place from February 3-7, 2021 - marking the sixth time the Indoor Hockey World Cup has been held
Speaking about the decision, FIH CEO Thierry Weil is excited by the recent announcement.
"With its speed, intensity and excitement, indoor hockey is an important and much-loved form of our sport and I am greatly looking forward to the sixth edition of the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup taking place in Belgium," Weil said.
"It promises to be a truly wonderful occasion for all fans of our sport."
The respective head coaches of Australia's national indoor teams, Mark Sandhu (women's) and Steve Willer (men's) welcomed the announcement as it provides some clarity and positivity during the current uncertainty surrounding not only sport but the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's good from the perspective that our players have now got some positive news and something to focus on," said Sandhu, who's preliminary squad involves Gray.
"Hopefully everything has calmed down in regard to the coronavirus by the time we have to make some decisions around player selection and preparation leading up to the World Cup."
Training camps were scheduled for August where Sandhu and Willer, who's original 25-man squad features Mayo, were expected to decide on their final 12-player teams before the crisis of coronavirus took hold.
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While the camps are now up in the air and may not go ahead as planned, Sandhu believes having confirmation of the details for the World Cup will provide the athletes with renewed enthusiasm.
"With elite athletes in particular, having something to focus on makes them far more productive and gives them the ability to reform with some purpose," Sandhu, who was an assistant coach to Willer at the last World Cup in 2018 when the Australian men's team finished fourth overall, said.
"It's good the dates have been announced and that we have a location - that gives the players something to aim for and for me as a coach, it's pleasing because there's some positivity about what's going on."
Australia's women's team, which included former Bomaderry High School student Gray, finished an admirable sixth at the last FIH Indoor World Cup and were the highest non European country, however Sandhu says there is a determination to raise the bar coming into Belgium next year.
"Our focus is to finish in the top four and put ourselves in a position to win a medal," said Sandhu.
"You've got to strive to do the best you possibly can, so just wanting to compete is not good enough.
"Our focus now is to win medals, do things that result in players getting reward for effort and also putting Australia on the map from an indoor perspective."
Similarly to Sandhu, Willer is pleased to have confirmation of the tournament, and while acknowledging the lead up is less than ideal due to the current state of affairs, the key will be adapting and making the best of the situation in order to give the team the best chance of being successful when it matters.
"It is great to have the details of the World Cup locked in and to know where it is," Willer said.
"In these current circumstances, at the moment it's about being flexible to try and get the best outcome and the best result so we can get a team together that can perform when we go away.
Read more: Gray gets in Australian indoor hockey team
"It's about trying to make sure we can deal with the situation, keep everyone safe while still being able to get a great result in February."
"The pressure and expectations are high after the last result (where the team finished fourth).
"It's going to be quite difficult with the current situation in being in peak form but we'll do our best to be on the podium."
The showpiece event of indoor hockey will see 12 teams competing in both the men's and women's competitions.
Australia has competed in every Indoor Hockey World Cup, which has been held five times since 2003.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
