Their campaign back on track after a jittery start, India will look to continue the winning momentum when they take on Paris Olympics silver medallist Germany in their next men’s FIH Pro League match here on Tuesday. India had a woeful start to their home leg matches of the Pro League, losing 1-3 to Spain in their opener. But the hosts bounced back strongly to tame Spain 2-0 in the return match on Sunday. With three points from two games, India are currently sitting in eighth place in the standings and will be desperate to climb up the table.

After a relatively off day on Saturday, the Indians looked a completely different side on Sunday, dominating for most part of the match and scoring two field goals through Mandeep Singh (32nd minute) and Dilpreet Singh (39th) to pocket all three points.

While the strikers shone bright in the second game, India’s chief coach Craig Fulton would be a bit concerned about penalty corner conversions.

Despite winning seven penalty corners across their two games, India failed to convert a single chance.

In the absence of India captain Harmanpreet Singh, who was rested for the second match, Hockey India League star performer Jugraj Singh cut a sorry figure from set pieces.

The forwardline comprising Dilpreet , Mandeep and Sukhjeet Singh have each netted a goal for India so far in the tournament and will be looking to add to their tally against Germany.

The Indian defence produced a much-better display in the second game, and were able to absorb pressure from the Spanish strikers.

Germany, who will be playing their first match of the India leg, are placed just above India in seventh place with four points from as many games and will be determined to turn their fortunes around.

Although Germany have won only one match in the tournament so far, their attack has been spearheaded by Raphael Hartkopf, Gonzalo Peillat, and Thies Prinz, who have scored two goals each.

Germany will aim to turn around their struggling campaign and secure vital points.

The two sides last met during a two-match Test series in New Delhi in October 2024, where Germany won the first game 2-0, but India bounced back in the second with a thrilling 5-3 victory.

However, Germany went on to claim the series through a shootout win.

Speaking on the upcoming matches, Harmanpreet said, “We are looking forward to our games against Germany. They are a quality team, and we know we need to bring our best performance to the field.

“After the positive result against Spain, our confidence is high, but we know there’s still work to be done. One of our main focuses is improving our penalty corner conversion, as it’s crucial to make the most of those opportunities in tight matches.” “The team is motivated and ready to build on the momentum from our last game. We’ve learned from both the matches, and we’re determined to bring our best performance to the field,” he added. 

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India vs Spain LIVE Telecast: The Indian men’s hockey team, currently ranked fifth in the world, is all set to kickstart their highly anticipated FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign. Led by Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian squad will open their campaign with two thrilling matches against World No. 8 Spain on February 15 and 16, followed by intense clashes against World No. 4 Germany on February 18 and 19. India’s campaign will open at home, thus offering a prime opportunity for the team to showcase their recent momentum. Following their encounters with Germany, India will take on Ireland on February 21 and 22, before facing the formidable World No. 2 England on February 24 and 25.

With their bonze medal triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side has proven their mettle on the international stage. The team was last seen in action during a two-match Test series at home against Germany in October 2024, where India bounced back from a 2-0 defeat in the first game to defeat the visitors 5-3 in the second. Though Germany won the series via shootout, the competitive performances added confidence to India’s preparations for the FIH Pro League.

Earlier, India showcased their prowess by successfully defending their title at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in September, winning all their matches and cementing their position as one of Asia’s strongest teams.

Harmanpreet Singh will be joined by vice-captain Hardik Singh as they lead a well-balanced squad filled with both experience and youthful talent. Senior players such as Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad will form the backbone of the team while emerging stars like Araijeet Singh Hundal, Angad Bir Singh and Arshdeep Singh bring fresh energy and skill to the lineup.

When will the India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match take place?

The India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match will take place on Saturday, February 15.

Where will the India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match be held?

The India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match will be held at Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

What time will the India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match start?

The India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match will start at 7:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match?

The India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match will be televised live on Star Sport Select 2, Star Sports 3 and DD Sports TV channels in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match?

The India vs Spain, FIH Hockey Pro League Match will be live streamed on JioHotstar.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

With IANS Inputs

Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch dished out a stellar performance to help Soorma Club beat Kalinga Lancers 4-3 in a thrilling match of the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday. Jeremy Hayward (11th minute), Nicolas della Torre (35th), Harmanpreet Singh (50th) and Harish Somappa (52nd) scored for Soorma while Thierry Brinkman (5th), Sanjay (30th) and Gursahibjit Singh (50th) were on target for the Lancers. In the day’s second match, Tamil Nadu Dragons claimed a 2-0 win against UP Rudras to collect all three points.

Abharan Sudev scored the opening goal for Tamil Nadu Dragons in the 48th minute, while Thomas Sorsby added a second in the 60th minute to seal the issue in his team’s favour.

Earlier, in a match which saw the Lancers notch 26 circle penetrations and nine shots in comparison to the Soorma’s 14 and seven respectively, it was Vanasch’s heroics at the goal which laid the foundations of Soorma’s win.

The Lancers started strongly as they put pressure on the Soorma defence with multiple circle entries in the opening minutes. The Lancers deservedly took the lead in the fifth minute through Netherlands national team captain Brinkman.

Soorma got their first penalty corners in the 10th minute after a swift counter launched by Jeremy Hayward, but they wasted it.

Soorma only needed to wait a minute more for their goal and it came via a penalty corner. However this time, the injection went to Hayward at the second battery with Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Sanjay unable to fully block the Australian’s drag flick.

The ball hit both players before rolling into the goal to level the scores in the 11th minute.

The Lancers won a penalty corner right before the hooter went to mark the end of the quarter. The Lancers switched their tactics by injecting the ball to Sanjay at the second battery instead of the more experienced Alexander Hendricks.

The young Indian was on the money with his drag flick to give his side the lead right at the end of the first quarter.

The Lancers had a golden opportunity to extend their lead to 3-1 in the 21st minute but were denied by Vanasch.

It didn’t take long in the second half for Soorma to draw level once again. They won their fifth penalty corner in the 35th minute and Della Torre fired his drag flick right into the top corner.

The Lancers could have taken the lead in the 40th minute as they won a penalty corner. Vansach was once again at hand to save Hendrickx’s drag flick and keep out Antoine Kina’s attempt from the rebound.

In the 48th minute, the Lancers fashioned another good chance as Bandurak tried to hit the ball from between his legs from point blank range. Vanasch was positioned perfectly to save it.

Harmanpreet finally opened his HIL account in the 50th minute to give Soorma the lead for the first time in the match. The Indian captain fired his drag flick straight down the goal with Sanjay unable to save it.

The lead barely lasted a minute as the Lancers hit back through Gursahibjit Singh. Kina dribbled past Harmanpreet in the circle and made his way to the goal line. The Belgian player cut the ball back towards the front of goal where Gursahibjit turned it past Vanasch to make it 3-3.

There was barely any time for the fans to catch their breath before Soorma scored to snatch the lead. Phil Roper danced past a couple of defenders before playing the ball towards the far post. Harish Somappa slid in to poke the ball into the empty goal to make it 4-3 for Soorma in the 52nd minute.

The Lancers won a penalty stroke in the 58th minute as Vivek Sagar Prasad was judged to have deliberately brought down Aran Zalewski in the circle. Vanasch won the battle of the Belgians as he went the right way to save Hendrickx’s attempt.

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India vs Germany Live Telecast Hockey Live Streaming: Where To Watch© X (Twitter)

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India vs Germany Live Telecast Hockey Live Streaming© Hockey India

Harmanpreet Singh’s Indian hockey team will have to attend to some unfinished business from the Paris Olympic Games when they take on reigning World Cup winner Germany in a two-match bilateral series at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Germany had defeated India in a semifinal match in the Paris Olympics. India then defeated Spain in the third-place match to claim the bronze medal while Germany lost to the Netherlands in the final and had to settle for the silver medal.

The first match of the India and Germany series on Wednesday is set to be a landmark moment as international hockey returns to the capital after a decade-long hiatus. The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium last hosted an international match during the Hockey World League final in January 2014, making this event even more special.

The India vs Germany series promises to deliver intense and exciting hockey, as both teams share a fierce rivalry. Since 2013, the two sides have faced each other 19 times, with India winning 8 matches and Germany 7. While Germany, who have done well recently by winning the World Cup and bagging silver in the Paris Olympics, will look to continue their dominance, India will be eager to avenge their narrow 3-2 loss in the semifinals in Paris.

For the Indian men’s hockey team, chief coach Craig Fulton, this series carries special significance. The South African made his international debut as a 21-year-old at the 1995 Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, held at the same stadium. His return to this historic venue, now as head coach of the Indian national team, is a full-circle moment in his career. After 29 years, Fulton brings his wealth of experience and leadership to a team that has shown significant improvement under his guidance, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter.

Speaking on the same, Fulton said, “It’s a special feeling to be back at this iconic venue, where my international journey began nearly three decades ago. To return here, but this time as the coach of the Indian national team is truly remarkable. Playing a series against a top team like Germany in front of passionate home fans adds to the significance of the occasion.

“So, yes, life has indeed come full circle for me, and I’m looking forward to guiding this talented group of players in such an important series. It’s a moment of pride and reflection for me personally, and I hope we can deliver a memorable performance,” he said.

Further talking about the series and taking on Germany, Fulton said, “From the point of view of an opposition, Germany poses a lot of threats, they are very good tactically, they are good in man-to-man marking. So, our strategy will have to adapt. You know you can play one way for 10 minutes and then a totally different way. They are a good team, smart team and we like playing Germany.”

The Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh also expressed his excitement about playing his first international match in the capital, “I’m really excited to be playing in Delhi again,” he said. “I have a lot of fond memories of this city and the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

“Back in 2013, I was part of the junior camp held here, and I spent countless hours training and honing my skills at this very stadium. It played an important role in my development as a player, so returning here to play an international match feels like a special homecoming. The atmosphere, the crowd, and the significance of this venue make it even more thrilling,” he said.

On playing against Germany, Harmanpreet said, “Intensity will be same as it was in Paris, but I think what is important is to learn from every match, whether you win or lose. Every team follows 2 to 3 structures, and our focus will be on that.”

India, buoyed by their strong recent form, including victory in the Asian Champions Trophy and home advantage, will look to tap into their speed and skill to overcome a well-drilled German side.

The India vs Germany Bilateral Hockey Series 2024 promises to be an exhilarating contest, with both teams aiming to make a strong statement ahead of upcoming major tournaments. Fans can expect two days of thrilling action as India and Germany renew their rivalry on the biggest stage in the heart of the nation.

Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh called the decision to exclude hockey from the 2026 Commonwealth Games as ‘unfortunate’ and revealed that his side was targeting gold in the tournament. On the eve of taking reigning world champion Germany in a bilateral series at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here, Indian men’s team head coach Craig Fulton and Harmanpreet were addressing a pre-match press conference when they got to know about the development.

“I need time to think about that. It is what it is. Unfortunate (decision), and at the same time, I’m thinking about today and what’s gonna happen tomorrow and the day after. That’s for down the line, that’s for another time to figure, discuss ramifications and what happens next,” said Fulton.

Harmanpreet echoed the same sentiments and added, “I just got to know now. I’m also on the same page. We were targeting a gold medal in that tournament but unfortune to hear this news now. It is not in our hands and we can’t think about it and at present the two matches (against Germany) are important for us.”

India have never won the gold medal in men’s hockey in CWG despite reaching the finals in 2010, 2014 and 2022, losing to Australia on all three occasions.

The women’s hockey team won the only gold medal for India in CWG in 2002 in Manchester. Interestingly, the men’s team did not participate in the 2002 edition.

The 23rd edition of the CWG is set to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026, and will feature only 10 sports with the exclusion of hockey, cricket, wrestling, table tennis, badminton and squash. Shooting, which was also dropped from the Birmingham 2022 CWG programme, is still out. There were 19 sports on the programme when Glasgow hosted the CWG in 2014.

In most of the sports which have been dropped from the Games, India won multiple medals in Birmingham.

India won 61 medals including 22 gold in the last edition of the Games. Of their total tally, 12 came from wrestling, seven each in boxing and table tennis, six in badminton, two each in hockey and squash and one in cricket – more than half of the total medals.