The past few weeks have been tough for Indian hockey fans. The team’s recent performances have been disappointing. Losing possession, conceding goals in the dying minutes, lapses in defence and failing to convert crucial penalty corners.
Craig Fulton and his boys began their FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign on a positive note, winning five matches out of eight in the home leg hosted at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar during February. Their solid performance earned them 15 points and placed them third in the standings after the home leg, trailing only Belgium and England.
With strong momentum and high confidence, the experienced team India headed to Europe with a clear mission to win the Pro League and secure direct qualification for the World Cup by finishing at the top of the standings. However, things went completely off track. India suffered six consecutive defeats, two each against the Netherlands, Argentina and Australia, dashing their hopes of winning the FIH Pro League title and securing the top spot. As a result, India slipped to eighth place in the points table.
Just a day before the start of the European leg, Fulton had said: “Securing a World Cup spot is definitely one of our priorities, and finishing on top in the Pro League is one way to achieve that. If that doesn’t work out, we also have the Asian Cup coming up in India. But yes, we want to finish as high as possible in the Pro League.”
Now, after a disappointing six straight losses, the hopes of securing a direct qualification for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 through the Pro League have vanished.
India began their European leg campaign against the Netherlands at the Wagener Hockey Stadium, and that was the start of their disappointing streak. In the first match, India lost 1-2, with Van Dam Thijs scoring a brace for the Dutch side. The second encounter against the Netherlands saw India go down 2-3, despite goals from Abhishek and Jugraj. The biggest reason for the defeat was India’s poor penalty corner conversion. They earned nine penalty corners but managed to convert only one, which ultimately proved costly.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
The next two matches against Argentina brought similar results for the Indian team. India lost the first match 3-4, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring a brace and Abhishek adding to the tally. However, India fell short after conceding a goal in the dying moments. In the second match, India went down 1-2, with Argentina’s Tomas Domene netting both goals.
The next two blows came against an aggressive Australian side in Antwerp, Belgium. India started strong in the first match, leading 2-1 by the end of the third quarter with Abhishek scoring two goals. However, the Indian side crumbled in the final quarter conceding two quick goals and eventually losing 2-3.
The second match followed a similar pattern. Tim Brand and Blake Govers gave Australia an early lead, Sanjay opened the scoring for India just after that but a goal from Copper Burns further extended the Aussies’ advantage in the second quarter. Although Dilpreet Singh pulled one back for India in the third quarter, the team couldn’t find the equaliser and eventually suffered a 2-3 defeat marking India’s sixth consecutive loss in a row in the European leg.
India’s European leg in the FIH Pro League exposed several problems.The penalty corner success rate was poor and also the team kept conceding late goals, which showed poor match control under pressure. The Indian team started a few games very well and had good possession early on, but couldn’t maintain momentum or defend strongly in the second half of those matches.
With Harmanpreet injured on a few occasions the replacements didn’t deliver and the predictable playing style of the team lacked flexibility. The Indian team’s defence, too, looked weak. Abhishek Nain impressed with four goals, but the attack lacked creativity and midfield support.
India’s goal difference is now minus two – the team scored 27 goals in 14 matches and conceded 29. India currently have 15 points from 14 games. With only two matches remaining, both against a strong Belgian side at Antwerp, India now will look to wrap up things on a good note, carrying the confidence to bounce back strongly in the upcoming events.
Also Read: India third in ISSF WC: Suruchi shines as Manu fails to make podium