All posts tagged: Hockey India League 2025

Hockey India League: Navneet Kaur scores again as SG Pipers make it two wins in two | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Navneet Kaur scores again as SG Pipers make it two wins in two | Hockey News

Published by Webster

SG Pipers just managed one outright win in the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League but have started the second edition in fine fashion, making it two wins in two matches. And it was captain Navneet Kaur who led the charge again, scoring her second in two matches, in a tight 1-0 win against Soorma Hockey Club in Ranchi on Wednesday. When Soorma defender Shihori Oikawa miscontrolled the ball high up the pitch, Navneet Kaur stole possession and began sprinting. The India vice captain, who hoped to contribute more goals in the HIL this year and sought to play with freedom, now had the length of the field in front of her to run into. She dribbled all the way into the circle, shifted the ball to her right to beat the last defender and struck a powerful shot across goal to beat Savita Punia. It’d be the only goal of the game. It was an early dagger for Soorma, who must have felt a sense of deja vu. In their opening match against Bengal Tigers, …

Gonasika edge Toofans in shootout after thrilling 3-3 draw

Gonasika edge Toofans in shootout after thrilling 3-3 draw

Published by Webster

Team Gonasika secured two points after a dramatic shootout victory over Hyderabad Toofans, who settled for one point, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time in their final pool-stage clash of the Hockey India League. Despite Toofans’ early dominance, Gonasika showed immense resilience, with Victor Charlet emerging as the hero with a brace, including the crucial equalizer in the final quarter. Hyderabad Toofans wasted no time in asserting their dominance, finding the net within the very first minute. Jacob Anderson capitalized on a defensive lapse from Gonasika to slot home a well-taken field goal, giving Toofans the perfect start. Just five minutes later, Tim Brand doubled the lead with another field goal, leaving Gonasika stunned as they trailed 2-0 within six minutes. However, Gonasika were quick to respond. They won their first penalty corner in the 12th minute, and after a review, it was upgraded to a penalty stroke due to a Toofans defender’s infringement. Victor Charlet stepped up and calmly converted, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Trading Blows in the Second Quarter The …

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers roar back to beat Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5-3 in a thriller

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers roar back to beat Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5-3 in a thriller

Published by Webster

The Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers claimed a crucial 5-3 victory over Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in a high-scoring, action-packed game in Ranchi, on Friday. Both teams came into this match with hopes of moving into the top half of the standings, and it was clear from the start that neither side would back down easily. The game began with intensity, and it was the Lancers who took the early lead through Angad, who scored a penalty corner. However, the Tigers quickly responded with Jugraj, who netted his first of the game from a penalty corner, bringing the score to 1-1. Shortly after, Thierry Brinkman restored the Lancers’ lead, making it 2-1. As the first half progressed, Rupinder Pal equalized for the Tigers, converting a penalty corner with ease. The game saw more drama when the Tigers, after several penalty corner attempts, took the lead for the first time with Jugraj’s second goal of the match. Abhishek then added a stunning goal from a counter-attack, putting the Tigers 4-2 up at halftime. The Lancers came out strong …

Hockey India League: Rupinder Pal Singh’s missed stroke proves costly as TN Dragons beat Bengal Tigers to climb top | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Rupinder Pal Singh’s missed stroke proves costly as TN Dragons beat Bengal Tigers to climb top | Hockey News

Published by Webster

On paper, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers got the same number of points from their last matches: none. After starting the Hockey India League with three wins out of three, they have now suffered back-to-back defeats. But the nature of those losses couldn’t have been more contrasting. On Friday in Rourkela, the Tigers went down 1-2 in a closely fought contest against a gritty Tamil Nadu Dragons, now the new leaders of the tournament. They huffed, they puffed, but couldn’t break the Dragons’ defence down. As captain Rupinder Pal Singh reflected on the loss, he made it a point to insist this was a performance much better than their 0-6 defeat against Kalinga Lancers, one where they just didn’t turn up at the start and lost to an early blitzkrieg. Rupinder also conceded that the turning point of the night came off his own stick: he uncharacteristically missed a penalty stroke – his second of the match – that would have brought his side level late in the third quarter. For Dragons, Karthi Selvam (16’) and …

Hockey India League: Karthi serves reminder, overseas players step up as TN Dragons beat Gonasika 6-5 in goalfest | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Karthi serves reminder, overseas players step up as TN Dragons beat Gonasika 6-5 in goalfest | Hockey News

Published by Webster

It was a hockey classic with a tennis-like scoreline and the flow of a basketball thriller. At the end of a goalfest, it was Tamil Nadu Dragons who came back from a 0-2 deficit inside 10 minutes to edge out Team Gonasika 6-5. But the storylines lay behind the scoreline. Of a young player on the national team fringes reminding the coaching staff of his capabilities; of an India discard using the Hockey India League route to catch the attention of the national team management and show isn’t yet a ‘has-been’; of a forward trying to add a new weapon to his fast-growing repertoire; and the ultimate truth that the foreign players continue to provide more return on investments compared to their Indian counterparts. Karthi serves a reminder For a couple of years, Karthi Selvam has been seen as a poacher Indian hockey did not have. This was, of course, before the likes of Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek tweaked their styles and began to show a lot more potency inside the ‘D’, or the fact …

Hockey India League: Soorma HC beat Kalinga Lancers 4-3 in what will likely go down as match of the tournament | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Soorma HC beat Kalinga Lancers 4-3 in what will likely go down as match of the tournament | Hockey News

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If there is a better match in the men’s Hockey India League this season, the tournament would be a blockbuster, because Soorma Hockey Club’s 4-3 win against home side Vedanta Kalinga Lancers would be hard to beat. In a match that ebbed and flowed at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday, Lancers would be left wondering how they let slip another match from their grasp after playing enthralling attacking hockey. At the half-time show on the official broadcast, PR Sreejesh was in the studio and wasted no time in answering the question: which goalkeeper had impressed him the most so far? In a match where seven goals were scored and numerous other chances created, the player of the match was the wily old Belgian custodian Vincent Vanasch. For Soorma, Jeremy Hayward (11th minute), Nicolas della Torre (35`), Harmanpreet Singh (50`) and Harish Somappa (52`) were on target. For Lancers, who started the match on fire, Thierry Brinkman (5`) opened the scoring. Sanjay (30`) and Gursahibjit Singh (50`) were the other scorers but …

Hockey India League: Abhishek leads the way as Indian internationals shine in Sharchi Rarh Bengal Tigers’ thrilling win over Hyderabad Toofans | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Abhishek leads the way as Indian internationals shine in Sharchi Rarh Bengal Tigers’ thrilling win over Hyderabad Toofans | Hockey News

Published by Webster

The opening night of the men’s Hockey India League saw a 2-2 draw in regulation time where all four goals were scored by overseas players. But in Match 2 on Sunday, the Indian internationals took centerstage for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in a thrilling 3-2 win against Hyderabad Toofans at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. Abhishek, the 2nd most expensive player signed up in the auction, wasn’t on the scoresheet but he had a significant hand in all three goals for the Tigers. Jugraj Singh (9′), Sukhjeet Singh (20′) and Affan Yousuf (36′) were on target for the Bengal franchise, who raced to a 3-0 lead. But Toofans fought back impressively, thanks to goals from Tim Brand (41′) and Arthur de Sloover (59′). A missed penalty stroke earlier in the match by Maico Casella, thanks to a stunning save by Jamie Carr for the Tigers in goal, ultimately proved costly for the Hyderabad franchise. After a patient start by Toofans, the Tigers started to gain momentum in the opening quarter, with their aerial …

Hockey India League, a quick guide: Teams, format of the tournament, where to watch and more | Cricket News

Hockey India League, a quick guide: Teams, format of the tournament, where to watch and more | Cricket News

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Hockey India League is set for a return after 7 years, with a men’s tournament featuring 8 teams and a women’s tournament (for the first time) featuring four teams. The league will be headlined by India’s Olympic medallists Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh, while overseas stars like Thierry Brinkman, Blake Govers and Jip Janssen. Here’s a quick guide to get you started: How many teams are part of the Hockey India League? In the men’s tournament, eight teams in contention: Delhi SG Pipers, Team Gonasika, Hyderabad Toofans, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club, Tamil Nadu Dragons, UP Rudras, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. Where are the men’s HIL matches taking place? Apart from four matches in Ranchi, men’s HIL will take place in Rourkela at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. What is the format of the men’s HIL? Phase 1 spans from 28 December to 18 January, where all eight teams will play against each other once. Phase 2, beginning on 19 January, will see the teams divided into two pools: Pool A …

Hockey India League, a quick guide: Teams, format of the tournament, where to watch and more | Cricket News

Hockey India League, a quick guide: Teams, format of the tournament, where to watch and more | Hockey News

Published by Webster

Hockey India League is set for a return after 7 years, with a men’s tournament featuring 8 teams and a women’s tournament (for the first time) featuring four teams. The league will be headlined by India’s Olympic medallists Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh, while overseas stars like Thierry Brinkman, Blake Govers and Jip Janssen are also in action. Here’s a quick guide to get you started: How many teams are part of the Hockey India League? In the men’s tournament, eight teams in contention: Delhi SG Pipers, Team Gonasika, Hyderabad Toofans, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club, Tamil Nadu Dragons, UP Rudras, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. Where are the men’s HIL matches taking place? Apart from four matches in Ranchi, men’s HIL will take place in Rourkela at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. What is the format of the men’s HIL? Phase 1 spans from 28 December to 18 January, where all eight teams will play against each other once. Phase 2, beginning on 19 January, will see the teams divided into …

HIL returns: Why the backdrop is ripe for Hockey India League to flourish | Hockey News

HIL returns: Why the backdrop is ripe for Hockey India League to flourish | Hockey News

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“Indian hockey’s history is huge and we are trying our best to make it better. Bas ek request hai ki aap hockey ko pyaar deejiye.” Soaking in the sweat after India’s bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, captain Harmanpreet Singh had a message to fans in India. “Give love to Indian hockey,” he told the broadcasters. On the back of two straight Olympic bronze medals – after four decades of returning empty-handed – Harmanpreet can be assured that the love for the sport in the country is on the upswing. The thousands of hockey tragics in India don’t just have heartbreaks to bond over anymore. There is success to relish. It is against this backdrop that the Hockey India League returns after a 7-year hiatus. The eight-team men’s tournament begins on Saturday at the magnificent Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. Former India coach Graham Reid will be in the dugout for Delhi SG Pipers, a franchise that has roped in PR Sreejesh as the Director. They will take on Team Gonasika, led by Manpreet …