NEW DELHI: The Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams kicked off their FIH Pro League India campaigns at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Both teams played eight matches from February 15 to 25, showcasing their strength in the prestigious league.
The Men’s team won five out of eight games. They finished third with 15 points, just one behind leaders England and Spain. Their campaign started with a 1-3 loss to Spain. They bounced back with a 2-0 win in the next match.
Next, they faced World No. 4, Germany. After losing the first game, they edged past Germany 1-0 in the second. Riding on this momentum, they secured two dominant wins over Ireland.
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A 2-3 loss to England briefly halted their streak. But they fought back, beating England 2-1 in the final match. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice. Mandeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh netted three goals each. Youngster Rajinder Singh also impressed.
The Women’s team had a mixed campaign. They won two and drew two, collecting nine points. They are currently sixth in the standings.
They started with a 3-2 win and a draw against England. But three straight losses followed—two to Spain and one to Germany. They bounced back with a 1-0 win over Germany.
In their last two matches, they took on World No. 1, Netherlands. Despite losing 2-4 in the first game, they fought hard. India earned 13 penalty corners and pushed the Dutch side to the limit.
In the final game, India staged a thrilling comeback to draw 2-2. They won the bonus point in the shootout, ending the home leg on a high.
Captain’s Take on the Campaign
Captain Harmanpreet Singh praised the team’s efforts.
“Winning five out of eight is a great start. The younger players stepped up when needed. I am immensely proud of the manner in which the team has performed. Securing five victories out of eight has provided us with a solid foundation for the tournament, and we are determined to build upon this in the upcoming games.”
He thanked the fans, saying,
“Your support means everything. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the fans who came out in large numbers to support us at the stadium. Your unwavering support is invaluable to the team, and we are committed to giving our utmost on the field in the matches ahead.”
Women’s captain Salima Tete also spoke positively.
“The result against the Netherlands boosts our confidence. We showed we can compete with the best. This will motivate us for the next matches.”
She added,
“We demonstrated that we possess the capability to compete against the finest teams in the world, and this outcome will serve as a significant source of motivation for us moving forward.”
The FIH Pro League India campaign has provided valuable insights for both teams as they prepare for future challenges.
