Indian Hockey’s journey through the year 2025 has had its ups and down, while there were moments of revival and resurgence on the men’s side, there was an alarming slide for the women’s team. The sharp contrast between the two teams has raised questions about the future of Indian Hockey.
The highlight of the year for the men’s team was in September at Rajgir, where they won the Asia Cup after an eight-year gap. While the title win ended India’s drought, it also bagged them a direct qualification at the 2026 FIH World Cup scheduled to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands. India men’s Asia Cup journey started with a bit of hesitation, but under the guidance of Craig Fulton, they gathered momentum and finished the tournament with authority. In the final against South Korea, India dominated from the get-go, winning the game 4-1. They only conceded two goals in their last three games owing to their dominant run in the tournament—which was a significant turnaround from their performances earlier in the year.
Asia Cup was a desperate win after India’s bruising exit from the FIH Pro League. The men’s team lost seven matches in a row in the Pro League against the Europeans and finished eighth out of nine teams. on the verge of relegation. With the Pro League as the backdrop, the Asia Cup resurgence was just what Indian Hockey needed to restore confidence and momentum ahead of what will be an important year leading up to the World Cup.
Another positive outcome was at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where after six years India finished with a silver. It was largely a second-string Indian team that undertook the challenge and pushed World No.3 Belgium to their limit in the final. While the senior players were rested, the tournament highlighted India’s depth under the leadership of defender Sanjay.
Meanwhile the junior team ended the season on a high with a bronze at the Junior World Cup in Chennai after beating Argentina. This was India’s first age-group World Cup medal since 2016 and an important one ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
The women’s team, however, have been struggling. Their decline, which began with the failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics, only deepened in 2025. India finished at the bottom of the Pro League table, they won only two matches and also suffered relegation to the Nations Cup. Their Asia Cup campaign ended in disappointment too, with a heavy final loss to China and failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Amidst the struggles, Head Coach Harendra Singh too stepped down from his role.
Indian Hockey in 2025 stood at a crossroads, the men made a comeback, rediscovered their authority but the women drifted away from the standard they had set in Tokyo. Progress in Indian hockey still remains uneven and fragile.
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