Antwerp (Belgium), June 16 (IANS): Indian hockey team striker Akashdeep Singh on Tuesday said the upcoming Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-final assumes an important step in the team's overall development in regards to the 2016 Olympic Games.

HWL Semi-final, an Olympic qualifying tournament, starts from June 20. The 10-nation tournament offers Olympic berths for top three performers. India, though, have already secured their place in the Olympics by winning the 2014 Asian Games gold medal.

"We realise the importance of this tournament as the outcome from here will chalk out the future course of action in terms of team combinations, how good will the present strategy work for us in the long run and which are the concerned areas which will need immediate attention," young Akashdeep said in a release.

"Each player is aware of this and is ensuring that he has to do his job as there is very less scope for mistakes. We as a team have reached a point where we have to grow and become stronger and we are enjoying this challenge.”

The top four teams will get the chance to play in the HWL Final to be held in India starting on November 28.