The Polish men's team will open its group-stage campaign on Monday with a tough clash against defending champions Austria.
Their group also includes hosts Croatia and South Africa, making it the most competitive group in the tournament, according to Poland’s head coach Dariusz Rachwalski.
The Polish team is setting its sights on the tournament's top honours, Rachwalski told the media ahead of the competition.
"We want to reach the final," he declared.
Indoor hockey, a fast-paced variation of traditional field hockey, requires quick thinking, precise execution and rapid decision-making, according to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Polish indoor hockey has enjoyed notable success in previous decades, with the national team finishing runner-up at the world championships three times and winning multiple medals at European championships.
Rachwalski was at the time a key player and captain of the national team. At the 2011 World Cup in Poznań, western Poland, he was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
However, Polish indoor hockey experienced a downturn in the following years. That changed last year when the national team secured silver at the European championships.
The 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup, held by the FIH, will take place in Croatia from February 3 to 9.
Poland, currently ranked ninth in the world, will be looking to reclaim its former glory.
(gs)
Source: PAP