All posts tagged: Hockey India League 2026

One match short of equalling record, former hockey captain Manpreet Singh dropped; ‘rested’, says coach Fulton | Hockey News

One match short of equalling record, former hockey captain Manpreet Singh dropped; ‘rested’, says coach Fulton | Hockey News

Published by Webster

3 min readJan 29, 2026 04:12 PM IST Former captain Manpreet Singh was dropped from the 33-member national team core group for next month’s Hockey Pro League. Manpreet, who is a game short of becoming India’s most-capped player, is the most notable omission, along with goalkeeper Krishan Pathak. A senior Hockey India official said the team management is looking to assess young players ahead of a busy season that includes the World Cup in August followed by the Asian Games. Manpreet’s exclusion, though, raises eyebrows as he is the only senior outfield player to be left out. “It is the coach’s decision. He wanted to test new players and saw Pro League as an opportunity to do it. Manpreet will be back in the squad for the next national team assignment,” a Hockey India official said. The camp, to begin in Rourkela next week, is part of India’s preparations for the upcoming phase of the FIH Pro League, to be held at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium from February 10 to 15. The home …

Hyderabad Toofans beat HIL GC 3-2 in must-win last league match and all but seal playoffs spot; Soorma HC keep slim hopes alive

Hyderabad Toofans beat HIL GC 3-2 in must-win last league match and all but seal playoffs spot; Soorma HC keep slim hopes alive

Published by Webster

With their tournament on the line, Hyderabad Toofans registered a narrow 3-2 victory against HIL GC in their last league stage match of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. Last edition’s finalists Hyderabad Toofans moved into third place with this win and their healthy goal difference should see them hold on to a place in the top four. Zachary Wallace, Amandeep Lakra and Shilanand Lakra were on target for Hyderabad, while Kane Russell scored a brace for HIL GC to continue his amazing run of form. In the day’s second match, Soorma Hockey Club handed Kalinga Lancers their first defeat of the season, winning 2-1. Playing in their final league match, the table-topping Lancers were unable to break down a resilient Soorma side, whose composure kept their slim playoff aspirations alive. Jeetpal (23’) and Vivek Sagar Prasad (38″) scored for Soorma as they secured three points and moved to sixth place in the table. Soorma, who have one more match to come against bottom-placed SG Pipers, can still …

After a thrilling 4-4 draw, Ranchi Royals clinch bonus point in shootout against HIL GC

After a thrilling 4-4 draw, Ranchi Royals clinch bonus point in shootout against HIL GC

Published by Webster

After a 4-4 draw over the four quarters, Ranchi Royals emerged victorious over HIL GC, beating them 4-1 in shootout in a thrilling Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) clash at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Monday. With the two points earned, Royals moved ahead of HIL GC on the points table into second place. Araijeet Singh Hundal (19′, 32′), Sam Lane (42′) and Tom Boon (57′) were the goalscorers for Ranchi Royals, while Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (25′, 53′), Kane Russell (36′) and Sudeep Chirmako (39′) scored the goals for HIL GC. In the shootout, Vishnukant Singh, Sam Lane, Maxime van Oost and Tom Boon scored from their attempts for the Royals. Royals started the game strong and made consecutive circle entries in the very first minute, Mandeep Singh was through on goal but James Mazarelo of HIL GC made a crucial save to keep it level. The rest of the quarter saw HIL GC regroup and hold possession, however, they couldn’t find clear chances on goal due to the Royals’ tight defence. The first penalty …

Alexander Hendrickx’s solitary goal helps Lancers maintain unbeaten run | Hockey News

Alexander Hendrickx’s solitary goal helps Lancers maintain unbeaten run | Hockey News

Published by Webster

A solitary goal by Belgian Alexander Hendrickx (40th minute) was enough for leaders Vedanta Kalinga Lancers to secure a win over Hyderabad Toofans and continue their unbeaten run in the eight-team Hockey India League in Ranchi on Wednesday. Lancers, who had finished sixth last season, had needed a shootout to prevail over Hockey India GC in their last encounter on Sunday, but got the job done in regulation time on this occasion. Lancers now have 11 points from four matches. They went into Wednesday’s match with a clear intent of taking an early lead. While Toofans had more ball possession in the opening quarter, Lancers had the only attempt on goal with Australian Liam Henderson’s shot being saved by German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg. Toofans had more of the ball in the second period as well and made 12 circle entries compared to Lancer’s seven. But Henderson once again came close to breaking the deadlock when his shot hit the post. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Lancers had conceded only three goals in the tournament and the …

Hockey India League: Ranchi Royals stun Bengal Tigers with four late goals; Lancers clinch shootout bonus against HIL GC in top-of-the-table clash | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Ranchi Royals stun Bengal Tigers with four late goals; Lancers clinch shootout bonus against HIL GC in top-of-the-table clash | Hockey News

Published by Webster

Playing their first home match, Ranchi Royals secured their first win of the Hockey India League season in spectacular fashion, defeating defending champions Bengal Tigers 4-1. FIH Player of the Year 2025, Tom Boon (54′, 60′) led from the front with two goals as the Royals staged a massive late-game comeback while trailing 0-1, scoring four times in the final six minutes to snatch all three points. Ketan Kushwaha (26′) gave Tigers the lead while Mandeep Singh (56′) and Lachlan Sharp (58′) scored the remaining two goals for Royals. Despite a flurry of attacks from both sides, the first quarter ended in a scoreless deadlock. Late in Q2, Abhishek fired a powerful tomahawk towards the goal, which was expertly deflected into the net by Kushwaha, the youngest player in the HIL. Ranchi pushed hard for an immediate equaliser, and captain Boon nearly found one in the final seconds of the half, but Tigers’ goalkeeper James Carr pulled off a brilliant save to keep the visitors 1-0 up at the break. The Tigers had several opportunities …

Hockey India League: Princedeep Singh shines in a shootout again as Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans play out thrilling 3-3 draw | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Princedeep Singh shines in a shootout again as Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans play out thrilling 3-3 draw | Hockey News

Published by Webster

In a match that ebbed and flowed one way then the other, it was the goalkeeper Princedeep Singh who had the final say at the same end of the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai where he announced his arrival during the FIH Junior World Cup. With far fewer fans around than that night when he starred in the shootout against Belgium to help India win the quarterfinal, he was brought on by Tamil Nadu Dragons just for the tiebreaker against Hyderabad Toofans at the end of what had been a sensational 3-3 draw in regulation time of the Hockey India League season opener. And the youngster from Pathankot, who shifted to goalkeeping from defence because he was inspired by PR Sreejesh, produced two superb saves to hand Dragons the bonus point. Before the shootout, Dragons and Toofans produced a rollercoaster that was played at breakneck speed. Uttam Singh (4’), Thomas Sorsby (9’) and Karthi Selvam (32’) scored for Dragons, while Amandeep Lakra (12’, 18’) and Arthur De Sloover (37’) scored for last-year finalists Toofans. The …

Hockey India League: From champions Bengal Tigers to revamped SG Pipers, a quick guide to all 8 teams | Hockey News

Hockey India League: From champions Bengal Tigers to revamped SG Pipers, a quick guide to all 8 teams | Hockey News

Published by Webster

The Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) starts on Saturday, 3rd January in Chennai at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore. This will be the second edition of the revived men’s Hockey India League and is scheduled to be held in multi-cities – starting with Chennai before it moves to Ranchi and ends in Bhubaneswar with the final on 26th January, 2026. SG Pipers After a poor season without a single outright win under Graham Reid, SG Pipers enter the season after an overhaul of their leadership and squad. The franchise, with Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as Director of Hockey, have named Tim Oudenaller as Head Coach. Captain Jarmanpreet Singh, an Indian defensive mainstay with 142 senior international caps, will lead the backline alongside drag-flick specialist Varun Kumar, who has amassed 142 caps and scored 39 goals. The team also boasts of veteran Rupinder Pal Singh to add further expertise in set-pieces. In goal, the Pipers will rely on Argentine veteran Tomás Santiago. The midfield has been reinforced with the inclusion of Wales’ Jacob Draper, while …

Hockey India League returns: From Harmanpreet Singh’s backup to India’s goalkeeper depth, five things to look forward to | Hockey News

Hockey India League returns: From Harmanpreet Singh’s backup to India’s goalkeeper depth, five things to look forward to | Hockey News

Published by Webster

After some teething issues in the rebooted Hockey India League, the tournament returns with some improvements and overcoming off-season hurdles. With UP Rudras pulling out of the league hours before the auction, Hockey India had to step in and take ownership of a franchise – a team that has been named HIL Governing Council – to avoid last-minute embarrassment. There were concerns about foreign players’ availability as well, which were largely addressed (top Dutch players will be absent) to ensure the quality of matches remains high. But a lot of attention will be on Indian players trying to leave a good impression on head coach Craig Fulton, who’d be looking to expand the talent pool. 1) India’s depth Fulton is left with a daunting task of managing a core group that has to contend with playing World Cup and Asian Games separated by less than three weeks. While World Cup medal has eluded Indian hockey for decades now, Fulton can’t afford to lose focus on Olympic qualification at stake from Asiad. The head coach will …

For Navneet Kaur, Women’s HIL presents an opportunity to explore her game and attack with freedom

For Navneet Kaur, Women’s HIL presents an opportunity to explore her game and attack with freedom

Published by Webster

The life of a national team hockey player in India can often get pretty lonely. It is a privilege of course, but it entails weeks and months spent in a camp in Bengaluru, the other times travelling as a unit to leagues and tournaments around the world. The return of the Hockey India League, however, has opened up new avenues – training with otherwise unfamiliar overseas stars, new coaching methods and tactics. For India women’s vice captain Navneet Kaur, though, another interesting opportunity fell on her lap. Ahead of the auction for the second women’s HIL, SG Pipers asked her to be a part of the team selection process. And not just by lifting the paddle on the auction table but being involved in the planning process. “Initially, I didn’t know why I had to sit at the table. But our new coach Sofie Gierts said, ‘Let’s make a team together’. She needed some help from me regarding the Indian players,” Navneet tells The Indian Express. “So when we started planning for it, I really …