The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 is at its thrilling midway point in the men’s section, while the women’s league is at its fag end and has offered some exciting action, surprises, and standout performances. With eight teams competing in the men’s league and four in the women’s, the tournament has been filled with drama and intensity as teams vie for supremacy.
Men’s League: High Drama and Competitive Balance
As the men’s league reaches its midpoint, nearly all teams have completed eight matches, and the season has been far from predictable. Initially, the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers were at the top, but their form has dipped, and they now find themselves sitting in 5th in the standings. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Dragons have emerged as the frontrunners, with 17 points from 8 games. They are closely followed by UP Rudras, who have accumulated 15 points in the same number of matches, showcasing solid performances.
One of the most surprising stories of the season has been the Delhi SG Pipers, who, despite scoring the most goals (23) in the league, have not managed to secure a single win and sit rock-bottom. Having conceded 35 goals, their defensive frailty has been a major concern. However, the Pipers’ attacking intent is commendable, as they consistently create goal-scoring opportunities but struggle to convert them.
The standout individual performance has come from Dutch forward Thierry Brinkman (Kalinga Lancers), who has been a revelation in attack, scoring 8 goals, all from field play. Argentina’s Thomas Domene (7 goals for the Pipers) follows close behind, while India’s Jugraj Singh has been instrumental for the Bengal Tigers, netting 6 penalty corners with the highest conversion rate in the league. Defensively, the Rudras have shown resilience, conceding the least goals (12), proving that solid defence is often just as valuable as attacking flair.
Photo: Siddharth Dwivedi / aceimages for HIL
Women’s League: Odisha Warriors Take Charge
In the women’s league, Odisha Warriors have been the strongest, leading the table with 11 points from six matches and securing a place in the final. Their forward, Yibbi Jansen from the Netherlands, has been in stunning form, leading the goal-scoring tally with 5 goals and boasting a perfect penalty corner conversion rate. JSW Soorma Hockey India and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers are also in the mix, but Delhi SG Pipers find themselves in a similar situation to their male counterparts – struggling to find form with just 1 win from 6 games, and sitting at the bottom of the standings. The last pool match will see Soorma Hockey Club and Bengal Tigers fight for a place in the final – Soorma are currently in second place with 10 points while Bengal follows them with 7. Anything other than a win without a shootout for the Tigers will result in Soorma cementing their second spot and a place in the final. The final of the women’s league will be played on January 26 in Ranchi.
Recent Action: Thrilling Encounters
The most recent men’s match on January 23, 2025, saw the Dragons secure a 4-3 victory in a penalty shootout after their encounter with the Hyderabad Toofans ended 2-2. It was an exciting and action-packed affair, with both sides showing attacking prowess. The Toofans took an early lead through Tim Brand, but Tamil Nadu quickly responded through Blake Govers. The match remained competitive, with Jip Janssen giving the Dragons a 2-1 lead in the second half. However, Maico Casella’s late goal for the Toofans in the 59th minute levelled the scores, taking the match into a penalty shootout. In the shootout, both goalkeepers, David Harte (Tamil Nadu) and Bikramjit Singh (Hyderabad), were in brilliant form, but the Dragons held their nerve to win 4-3.
In the women’s league, the Pipers earned a 3-2 shootout win over the Warriors in an intense encounter on January 23, 2025. The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time, with goals from Navneet Kaur for the Pipers and Yibbi Jansen for Odisha. Despite the Warriors’ dominance in the game, it was Delhi’s Elodie Picard who was the hero in the shootout, helping her team snap up their second win of the season.
The match was tight, with Odisha creating multiple chances, but Bichu Devi in goal for Delhi was resolute, making important saves throughout. The SG Pipers capitalised on a penalty stroke from Navneet to take the lead, but Odisha responded with a fantastic drag flick from Jansen. In the shootout, both goalkeepers kept making crucial saves, but in the end, it was Picard’s composure that proved decisive, with Odisha’s Freeke Moes missing the target in the 10th attempt, handing Delhi the win.
Photo: s Saikat Das / aceimages for HIL
Local enthusiasm
While interacting with a resident of Rourkela, the main venue for the league, we got a true sense of how the people of the city have embraced the tournament. Deepak Agarwal, an ardent hockey fan from the region, shared his excitement: “My friends and I have attended many matches. The people of Rourkela are thrilled about the league, and the stadium is packed – the stands are almost full on weekends and half-filled during weekday games.”
He added, “There’s a growing local fanbase for Kalinga Lancers, and people are supporting them as their home team. But it’s not just about the Lancers; fans are coming out for all the matches, eager to enjoy the game.” Deepak summed it up perfectly, saying, “People here absolutely love hockey.”