The Indian men’s hockey team made a brilliant comeback to down Spain 2-0 in a return leg match of the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. India lost to Spain 1-3 in the first match of the leg on Saturday despite taking the lead through Sukhjeet Singh’s goal. On Sunday, however, it was a completely different looking Indian side as it dominated for most part of the match and scored two field goals through Mandeep Singh (32nd minute) and Dilpreet Singh (39th) to pocket full three points. India will next play Germany on Tuesday.

It was India who enjoyed the better share of ball possession and created more chances in the first two quarters but failed to capitalise those into goals.

India had the first chance in the fifth minute when Mandeep got a golden opportunity inside the circle, but the Spanish keeper Rafael Rivilla made a solid save to deny the Indian striker.

Seconds from the end of the first quarter, India earned back-to-back penalty corners, but Jugraj Singh faltered.

India custodian Krishan Bahadur Pathak made a fine save to deny Spain their first shot on goal in the 14th minute.

India dominated possession and pressed hard in the first two quarters, but failed to breach a resolute Spanish defence as both the teams failed to break the deadlock in the first half.

Two minutes after the change of ends, India secured another penalty corner but Spanish goalkeeper Revilla made double save to deny Jugraj.

But from the resultant free hit, Mandeep neatly deflected in Dilpreet’s pass from close range to hand India the lead.

Seven minutes later, Dilpreet scored his 32nd goal for India with a brilliant deflection after being set up by Mandeep and Gurjant Singh.

In the 43rd minute, Spain earned a penalty corner but their dragflicker Pepe Cunill missed the target.

India also got a penalty corner soon but Jugraj misfired again.

Trailing by two goals, Spain pressed on the accelerator, earning a couple of penalty corners in the final quarter but the Indian defence stood tall in the absence of skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was rested for the game.

Earlier in the day, the Indian women’s hockey team fought back twice before going down 1-2 in shoot-out against England after both the teams finished 2-2 in regulation time.

Paige Gillot (40th minute) and Tessa Howard (56th) scored from two penalty corners for England in the regulation timer, while India’s goals came from Navneet Kaur (53rd) and Rutuja Dadoso Pisal (57th). Kaur scored off a penalty stroke while Rutuja struck a field goal.

In the shoot-out, only Navneet scored for India while the likes of skipper Salima Tete, Sunelita Toppo and Lalremsiami faltered.

For England, Lily Walker and skipper Sophie Hamilton were on target in the shoot-out.

The win gave England a bonus point. India had earlier defeated England 3-2 in the first leg here on Saturday.

The Indian women will next play Spain on Tuesday.

England started on an aggressive note, dominating the early exchanges. They enjoyed the ball possession in the first quarter and secured the first penalty corner of the match in the ninth minute but failed to get past experienced Savita Punia in front of Indian goal.

England continued their domination and secured the second penalty corner in the 11th minute but once again failed to breach the Indian defence.

Kaur was by far the best player for India upfront, creating chances for her side with quick incisive runs.

Kaur secured India’s first penalty corner in the 16th minute, which resulted in another set piece but England goalkeeper denied Manisha Chauhan from the second attempt.

In the 21st minute, Kaur was once again denied by the English keeper from close range.

A minute later, India earned another penalty corner, but Deepika’s flick went wide as both the teams failed to break the deadlock in the first half.

After the change of ends, England had the first chance in the form of another penalty corner in the 38th minute and another two minutes later, which eventually broke the deadlock.

Gillot neatly deflected in a perfect slap shot from skipper Sophie Hamilton to hand England the 1-0 lead.

In the 53rd minute, India secured a penalty stroke for a stick tackle, and Kaur made no mistake from the spot.

Three minutes later, India goalkeeper Savita made a brilliant saved with her extended left leg from a set piece.

But minutes later, England secured another penalty corner and Howard deflected in Hamilton’s slap hit.

Soon after the goal, India withdrew goalkeeper Savita for an extra field player and Rutuja scored a brilliant debut goal from Sunelita’s pass to draw parity.

Seconds from the final hooter, England secured another penalty corner but India defended stoutly to take the match into the shoot-out.

India’s women’s hockey captain Salima Tete is confident that her team will give an improved performance when the Bhubaneswar leg of FIH Pro League commences on Saturday and will not be pulled back by its disastrous showing in the previous season. India will open their campaign against England at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, hoping to erase the memories of an eighth-place finish last season, where they ended up only ahead of the United States. The other teams in fray here are Germany, Spain and world No.1 Netherlands.

India scored only 16 goals last season in comparison to champions Netherlands, who smashed a mind-boggling 63 goals.

The country is currently ranked ninth in the world, while powerhouse Germany are fourth, England seventh and Spain eighth.

“We had a disappointing season last time but I feel we are well-trained and prepared to do better this time around,” said Tete ahead of the India leg.

India will begin their campaign in the Pro League with two matches against England on February 15 and 16, followed by clashes against Spain on February 18 and 19.

The side will also face challenging opponents in Germany and world No. 1 Netherlands on February 21, 22 and February 24, 25 respectively.

“We can’t wait to play at the Kalinga Stadium again and win as many points as we can. We are facing challenging opponents but I am confident that the girls are ready to take on the challenge and do their best on the field,” Tete added.

Head coach Harendra Singh said he was optimistic about the team performing on an even keel against their higher-ranked opponents.

“The girls have worked extremely hard in the camp and I am confident that we have a squad, good enough to play on-par with all our opponents. With the support of the home crowd, we have crucial matches coming up and we need to focus on winning maximum points,” he said.

India clinched their third Asian Champions Trophy title beating China at home in November last year, giving them the boost they needed after missing out on a Paris Olympics berth.

With a blend of experienced players like Savita, Sushila Chanu, Nikki Pradhan, Vandana Katariya, Udita, Lalremsiami and Sharmila Devi alongside star youngsters like Deepika, Sunelita Toppo and Jyoti in the ranks, India have a well-balanced squad.

Former India women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal is hopeful the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) will set the platform for young girls to win national team berths for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane and beyond. Talking to SAI Media in Rohtak recently, Rani feels the first edition of women’s HIL will “deliver big time going forward”, the same way the women’s version of the Indian Premier League did for cricket. The first-ever Women’s Hockey India League 2024-25, scheduled between January 12 and 26 in Ranchi, features four teams – Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Soorma Hockey Club.

Rani Rampal will serve as a mentor and coach of the Soorma Hockey Club of Punjab. This will be her maiden stint as a support staff. The 30-year-old from Haryana, who has played more than 250 international matches, feels HIL has come at the right time when women’s hockey is trying to make a turnaround after not qualifying for the Paris Olympics 2024. 

“There may be four teams only this time but starting the league has been a long time coming. Hockey India needs to be complimented for this,” Rani told SAI Media, adding that this will be her first major step towards coaching the national team one day. 

“The men’s hockey team won back-to-back bronze medals in the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris because the foundation was laid by the men’s Hockey India League years back.  Now thanks to the introduction of the women’s HIL, we will get to see a lot of talented young women showcase their mettle in the 2032 and 2036 Olympics. This platform will turn out immensely fruitful,” she added.

HIL started in 2013 with six men’s teams. It was played for five years before shutting down largely for commercial reasons. It was revived after seven years with an additional women’s league.

Recalling the success of the women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of women’s cricket’s prominence, Rani continued, “Nobody knew much about women’s cricket, but now you see, how the sport has become so popular in the nation. Through the women’s IPL (WPL), people came to know about it and have started following the sport manifold.”

With the two veterans of Indian hockey in recent years – PR Sreejesh and Rani Rampal – taking up coaching assignments, Rani also wished the ‘Wall’ Sreejesh all the success he would bring forth as the Indian junior hockey team coach.

“Sreejesh has almost 20 years of international experience. The junior team will do very well because they will get to know how to perform in a high-level pressure situation,” said Rani.

Talking of coaching mindsets, Rani said she and Sreejesh had a few things in common. “I also want to share the same knowledge and experience with the youngsters during the women’s HIL so that they can be helped emotionally and mentally. We have to bring the best out of them.”

The Indian men’s hockey team will end the riveting year in fifth place in the FIH world rankings, while the women’s team is placed ninth in the latest update released by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday. The Indian men’s hockey team made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning back-to-back medals at the Games for the first time since the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Olympic champions the Netherlands (3267 points) stand at the top of the rankings. The Netherlands started the year in the top spot following a great run in the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, and gold medals at the FIH Hockey Pro League and the EuroHockey Championship in 2023.

A fast start to the 2024-25 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League has propelled England (3139) into second place in the world with Belgium (3124) following closely behind in third, having made a good start to the new Pro League season themselves.

Reigning World Champion Germany (3066) had climbed up to second place following their silver medal at Paris 2024, but a rough start to the Pro League saw them dropping two places, down to fourth in the world.

Eight-time Olympic gold medallist India (2955) and the 2004 winners Australia (2814) are placed fifth and sixth in the world, with both teams set to start their Pro League seasons at home in February 2025 — the Kookaburras playing in Sydney from February 4, while the Men in Blue will start their campaign on February 15 in Bhubaneswar.

Argentina (2722), Spain (2570), France (2116) and Ireland (2112) round out the top-10 to end 2024, with South Africa (2082), New Zealand (2058), Malaysia (1970), Korea (1945) and Pakistan (1942) giving chase as teams ranked from 11 to 15.

In the women’s world rankings, the Netherlands (3689) had another perfect year winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, along with the EuroHockey Championships gold and another FIH Hockey Pro League title.

Argentina (3203) continue to remain in a distant second place, following their bronze medal performance at Paris 2024. They did manage to close the gap between themselves and the Netherlands earlier this month, after getting their first win in nearly three years, over the Dutch side in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25.

Belgium (2918), Germany (2846), and Australia (2820) started the year as the third, fourth, and fifth-ranked teams in the world, respectively, and continue to hold the same positions as they head into 2025.

However, following them closely behind and rapidly closing the gap are Alyson Annan’s China (2685), who have gone from strength to strength in 2024, with a historic silver medal performance at the Olympics.

England (2471) are stepping into a new era following a slew of retirements in the aftermath of Paris 2024, and while they hold on to the seventh spot in the world rankings, three losses in four matches to start the new season of the Pro League mean, the chasing pack have now closed in on the English.

Spain (on eighth, 2422), India (ninth, 2350) and New Zealand (10th, 2124) round out the top-10 positions heading into 2025.

Both Spain and India will aim to climb up the rankings ladder early in 2025 when they start their FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 campaigns in February, in Sydney and Bhubaneswar, respectively.

The chasing pack behind the top-10 includes Japan (2063) in eleventh, Ireland (2028) in twelfth, United States (1998) in thirteenth, Chile (1962) in fourteenth, and Korea (1869) in fifteenth.

India beat Malaysia 5-0 in the women’s junior Asia Cup.© X/@TheHockeyIndia

Young striker Deepika turned out to be the star once again with a fine reverse hit goal as India retained their women’s Asian Champions Trophy title after edging past Olympic silver medallist China 1-0 in a pulsating final Wednesday. Deepika scored the winner for India from a penalty corner in the 31st minute to finish as the tournament’s highest goal getter with 11 strikes. India had earlier stunned China 3-0 in the league stages of the tournament. It was India’s third ACT title after winning the top honours in 2016 and 2023.

The Indian team is now the most successful side in the tournament’s history along side South Korea with three titles each.

China, on the other hand, will have to settle for their third runner-up finish.

Japan finished third on the podium after defeating Malaysia 4-1 in the third-fourth place classification match earlier in the day.

It was neck and neck fight between the two sides throughout the contest. Both India and China made many promising circle penetrations but the backline of both the sides was rock solid in the first two quarters.

The 17-year-old Sunelita Toppo was brilliant with her dribbling skills and defence splitting runs from both flanks for India.

Three minutes into the second quarter, China secured the first penalty corner of the match but India’s second goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a terrific diving save to keep out Jinzhuang Tan.

In the next two minutes the Indians earned as many as four penalty corners but as has been case in the tournament so far, they failed to utilise a single with Deepika taking most of the chances.

Penalty corner conversion has been a concern for India in the tournament as in the semifinal against Japan they managed 13 set pieces, but failed to find the net even once.

In the 23rd minute, it was India’s turn to concede another penalty corner but the first rusher defended bravely to deny the Chinese.

Minutes later, skipper Salima Tete created a fine ball for Sharmila Devi whose first time hit to the near post went wide as the deadlock continued at half-time.

India kept up the pressure on the Chinese defence and secured their fifth penalty corner with the first move after the change of ends.

Deepika this time finally found the net with a reverse hit after building on from a miss-trap push.

In the 42nd minute Deepika had a bright chance to increase her tally when she earned a penalty stroke for a deliberate push inside the circle.

But Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting pulled off a stunning reflex save to deny the star Indian striker.

Minutes later, Ting once again came to China’s rescue as she saved Sushila Chanu’s shot from India’s sixth penalty corner.

Trailing by just a solitary goal, the Chinese employed high-press hockey thereafter and also managed to breach inside the Indian circle on a few occasions but the home team’s defence didn’t break. PTI SSC AT SSC AT AT

Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Rajgir on Tuesday. Vice-captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute while Lalaremsiami struck from field play in the 56th minute for India, who had plenty of scoring chances including 13 penalty corners. India will face China, whom they defeated in the league stages, in the final on Wednesday. Earlier, China beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal.

Malaysia will take on Japan in the third-fourth place match, while Korea finished fifth after beating Thailand 3-0 in the fifth-sixth place classification match.

The Indians continued their attacking game and put on early pressure on the Japanese defence, just like the last league game.

The play was mostly inside the Japanese half as the Indian defence was hardly tested.

India had the first shot at the goal inside the initial five minute. Skipper Salima Tete’s attempt was thwarted by Japanse goalkeeper Yu Kudo.

The Indians repeatedly penetrated the Japanese citadel and in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes but Kudo was alert under the bar to deny Navneet Kaur and Deepika.

Three minutes into the second quarter, India secured three back-to-back penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.

It was raining penalty corners for the hosts as they got back-to-back set pieces in the 21st minute but Kudo produced a brilliant save with her fully-stretched right leg to deny Deepika again.

In the 24th minute, India earned a penalty corner followed by another in the next minute but failed to get past Japanese goalkeeper Kudo, as they also lacked in execution.

A minute after the change of ends, India secured two penalty corners but wasted both.

In the 35th minute, Kodu again denied Deepika from a set piece.

In the 41st minute, Deepika stole the ball just outside the Japanese circle, but shot wide from a one-on-one situation with Kudo.

Seconds from the end of third quarter, Kudo once again pulled off a brilliant save to deny Udita from another penalty corner.

In the 47th minute, India secured their 12th penalty corner but failed to breach Kudo.

But a minute later, India broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke earned by Deepika and Navneet made no mistake.

The goal seemed to have rejuvenated the Indians as they scored a fine field goal in the 56th minute.

Lalremsiami slammed into the back of the Japanese goal after she was brilliantly set up by Sunelita Toppo’s terrific run from the right flank.

Japan got a penalty corner in the dying moments, but failed to get past a rock solid Indian defence.

India vs Japan Live Streaming Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 Semifinal Hockey© X (Twitter)

Defending champions India stormed into the semifinals of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy with an unbeaten record, defeating Japan 3-0 on Sunday. Continuing her stellar form, star striker Deepika netted a quickfire brace from penalty corners in the final quarter to seal the victory, following vice-captain Navneet Kaur’s opener in the 37th minute. With this win, India topped the league stage with maximum 15 points from five matches, ahead of Olympic silver medallists China (12 points). India will take on fourth-placed Japan in the semifinal on Tuesday, while China will play third-placed Malaysia in the other last-four game. Deepika, the tournament’s leading scorer, now boasts 10 goals, including four field goals, five penalty corners, and one penalty stroke, underscoring her dominance.

In the day’s other matches, Malaysia beat Thailand 2-0, while China defeated South Korea by an identical margin.

The Indians secured their first scoring chance in the form of back-to-back penalty corners in the eighth minute but Deepika’s flick from the second effort was brilliantly saved by Japanese goalkeeper Yu Kudo.

India earned another penalty corner in the 13th minute but yet again wasted the chance.

The Indians continued to dominate and secured their fourth penalty corner in the 25th minute but once again Kudo rose to the occasion and made three brilliant saves to deny the hosts.

A minute after the change of ends, Kudo again came to Japan’s rescue to deny Deepika.

India eventually broke the deadlock in the 37th minute through Navneet’s brilliant reverse hit to the second post.

Deepika’s brilliance

The Indians continued their domination and earned three back-to-back penalty corrners in the 47th minute and star dragflicker Deepika finally found the back of the net with a powerful low dragflick to open her account.

A minute later, the Indians secured another set piece and this time too Deepika struck again with a powerful flick into the top right corner, effectively sealing the match.

Credit must also go to the Indian defence, led brilliantly by Udita and Sushila Chanu, as they didn’t let the Japanese take a single shot at the Indian goal.

Skipper Salima Tete, Neha and Sharmila Devi too were brilliant in the midfield, creating numerous chances for the forwardline with their runs and neat dribbling skills.