All posts tagged: Indian hockey team

India’s 51-year wait for FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup semi-final continues

India’s 51-year wait for FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup semi-final continues

Published by Webster

India’s wait for a place in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup semi-finals will extend to 51 years after they suffered a 3-5 defeat against Argentina in their crucial second-round match in Amstelveen on Monday. India needed a victory by at least two goals to remain in contention for the last four, but Argentina took control early and never allowed the Indian side to build enough momentum. Joaquin Toscani opened the scoring in the first minute before Nicolas della Torre doubled Argentina’s advantage in the sixth. Tomas Domene added another in the 33rd minute to put Argentina 3-0 ahead. Sukhjeet Singh pulled one back for India a minute later, but Domene struck again in the 45th minute to restore Argentina’s three-goal cushion. Toscani completed his brace in the 53rd minute to make it 5-1. India reduced the deficit through Sukhjeet in the 58th minute before Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke with four minutes remaining. However, the late goals were not enough to prevent India’s exit from the semi-final race. The result means India will …

India thrash South Africa 6-1 for first win at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup

India thrash South Africa 6-1 for first win at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup

Published by Webster

India registered their first win at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa in Amstelveen on Tuesday. The Indian attack clicked from the outset, with six different players finding the net as India secured a convincing result following their opening 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China. Sunelita Toppo opened the scoring in the first quarter before Navneet Kaur doubled India’s advantage early in the second. Sushila Chanu added another goal before half-time as India went into the interval with a 3-0 lead. India maintain control after break India continued their attacking dominance after the restart and extended their advantage through Deepika in the third quarter. Lalremsiami then added a fifth before Sakshi Rana completed India’s six-goal tally. South Africa eventually pulled one back through Kayla de Waal in the fourth quarter, but the goal did little to alter the outcome as India comfortably managed the remainder of the contest. The emphatic victory gives India a major boost in their bid to progress from the pool stage. …

Opposition slams saffron hockey jersey, says Army uniform could be next

Opposition slams saffron hockey jersey, says Army uniform could be next

Published by Parlour News

The Opposition on Thursday stepped up its attack on the Centre over the Indian hockey team’s new saffron jersey, with several leaders accusing the BJP and the RSS of attempting to “saffronise” public institutions and national symbols. Some leaders even warned that the Indian Army’s uniform could be the next target if such changes continued. The new jersey colour has created a storm in Indian hockey. (Screengrab from HI video) The remarks came a day after Hockey India’s unveiling of a saffron-coloured jersey for the Indian men’s and women’s teams ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup triggered a political row and drew criticism from former India captain Viren Rasquinha. Priyanka Gandhi attacks BJP-RSS over jersey row Speaking in the Parliament complex, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the controversy reflected a broader attempt by the BJP and the RSS to reshape institutions and history. “They may change uniforms and even history through the RSS-influenced education policy, but they must understand what the youth of this country think,” she said. Recalling India’s freedom movement, Gandhi …

Asian Games vs World Cup: Tight schedule brings selection headache for Hockey India and head coach Craig Fulton | Hockey News

Asian Games vs World Cup: Tight schedule brings selection headache for Hockey India and head coach Craig Fulton | Hockey News

Published by Webster

“Our complete focus is on the Asian Games. We can’t rule out the possibility of sending two different teams to the two tournaments (Asian Games and World Cup).” — Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India president. “We are going to have one squad and are going to base it (the team selection) around that.” — Craig Fulton, India head coach. When selection trials take place this week, the think-tank must balance two approaches: go all-out in both tournaments, as Fulton suggests, or prioritise the Asian Games, as Tirkey prefers. India, arguably Asia’s strongest World Cup contender, is caught in a scheduling bind. The World Cup ends on August 30 (or August 28 if they don’t go beyond the semifinals), and within two weeks the team leaves for Nagoya, where the Asian Games begin on September 18. The only tighter turnaround was in 1986. India won the bronze medal at the Asian Games on September 29 in Seongnam, South Korea. Six days later, on October 5, their World Cup campaign got underway in London with a defeat to …

Sanjay to lead Indian hockey team at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Harmanpreet, Manpreet and other seniors rested | Sports News

Sanjay to lead Indian hockey team at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Harmanpreet, Manpreet and other seniors rested | Sports News

Published by Webster

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh has been rested as defender Sanjay will lead the Indian men’s hockey team at the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup starting from November 23 in Ipoh, Malaysia. Coach Craig Fulton has gone with his B side resting several senior players including first choice goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera. Apart from the goalkeepers, midfield veteran Manpreet Singh and striker Mandeep are also not part of the team. Young goalkeepers Pawan and Mohith HS will take the guard in the goal while Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, and Amit Rohidas will lead the defensive line up along with Povanna CB, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Yashdeep Siwach. Jugraj will have the additional responsibility of taking penalty corners. The midfield will be marshalled by Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen. The attack will be led by Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek. Story continues below this ad The standbys for the tournament include Varun Kumar, Vishnu Kant …

Harmanpreet to lead Indian men’s hockey team in European leg of FIH Pro League 2024/25 | Hockey News

Harmanpreet to lead Indian men’s hockey team in European leg of FIH Pro League 2024/25 | Hockey News

Published by Webster

Hockey India on Thursday announced the 24-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team for the European leg of FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 (Men), which is scheduled to take place in Amstelveen, the Netherlands and Antwerp, Belgium from 7th to 22nd June 2025. India will begin their European leg with two matches each against the Netherlands on 7th and 9th June followed by the double header against Argentina on 11th and 12th June at the Wagner Stadium in Amstelveen. The team will then travel to Antwerp to face Australia on 14th and 15th June before they end their campaign against hosts Belgium on 21st and 22nd June. The squad doesn’t have much surprise as Krishan Bahadur Pathak will start in the goal along with Suraj Karkera. Defence will be led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh along with experienced defenders Sumit, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and youngsters Yashdeep Siwach and Jugraj Singh. Story continues below this ad Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh along with vice captain Hardik Singh will lead the midfield along with Nilakanta Sharma, Raj …

Indian women’s hockey team loses 3-5 to Australia A in first game of Australia Tour

Indian women’s hockey team loses 3-5 to Australia A in first game of Australia Tour

Published by Webster

The Indian women’s hockey team started off their tour of Australia with defeat, losing 3-5 against a clinical Australia A side at the Perth Hockey Stadium on Saturday. While India scored through Mahima Tete (27’), Navneet Kaur (45’), and Lalremsiami (50’), it was Neasa Flynn (3’), Olivia Downes (9’), Ruby Harris (11’), Tatum Stewart (21’), and Kendra Fitzpatrick (44’) who netted for Australia A in a winning cause. The match saw the Indian women’s hockey team wearing black armbands during the match to mourn the innocent lives lost in the tragic Pahalgam attack on April 22. Hokey India stated that the women’s team will continue wearing black armbands for the remainder of the Australia tour as a mark of respect and remembrance for the victims and their families. The match was played at a frenetic pace with some end-to-end action. It was initially Australia A who asserted early control. Fittingly, the hosts broke the deadlock through a well-constructed field goal by Neasa Flynn in the third minute itself. By 11 minutes into the game, the …

Hockey star Manpreet Singh loses six kilos, develops six packs to prolong career

Hockey star Manpreet Singh loses six kilos, develops six packs to prolong career

Published by Webster

And just like that, he breaks ice over an eternal sporting dilemma — the ageing athlete. For a decade-and-a-half, since debuting in 2011, he’s witnessed the insecurities that creep into a players’ psyche, the pitfalls of living in denial of their fading superpowers, and the endless chatter over their relevance. “I didn’t want people to think that I am taking it easy; that I have become slow…” the former captain, 32, says. Story continues below this ad Last September, he had his first brush with reality. India ended the international season with the Asian Champions Trophy title, a month after the Paris Olympics bronze medal, and Manpreet — though overjoyed — experienced an unfamiliar feeling. During the tournament, he felt his feet dragging, reflexes slowing down and huffing and puffing almost every time he had to chase the ball. “I felt heavy,” he says. When he stepped on the weighing scale, the needle stopped at 73 kg. “It was the heaviest I had ever been!” The weight gain, albeit just 3 kilos, was a direct …

Hockey legend Vandana Katariya retires

Hockey legend Vandana Katariya retires

Published by Webster

Even with the usual full-fledged transition ongoing in women’s hockey with younger players being ushered in preparing for LA28 qualification, the 32-year-old has had it in her the fierce determination and ability to battle for the poaching forward’s slot. The Haridwar hurricane who ran like the wind and dived at goalmouth, undeterred by poking sticks, finished with 158 goals from 320 games and an Olympic hat-trick. But on Tuesday, the thought of stepping back that had been swirling for a few months was paused. Vandana, the first Indian woman to play over 300 games, took a snap-second decision – not unlike how she routinely barged into the D. Story continues below this ad “It’s always a tough decision, but it had to be taken at some point. I didn’t really talk to anyone about it, just acted on my emotion,” she would say on Tuesday, during marathon 5-hour long media interactions. “I’ve just been talking to the press since morning. Haven’t had time to think about future options – coaching, maybe, perhaps if I have …

How India women are borrowing a football principle to hassle rivals

How India women are borrowing a football principle to hassle rivals

Published by Webster

The calm waters of Kannur was an unlikely place to launch the road to Los Angeles. But last July, when the Indian men’s hockey team were preparing to open their Paris Olympics campaign — which ended with a second-successive bronze medal — the women found themselves in Kerala’s coastal town. Still reeling from the Olympic qualifier debacle, the players did not know what they were doing there. And as coach Harendra Singh admits, ‘they perhaps did not even want to be there’. ”There was a lot of resilience and scepticism. They wondered, ‘what are we even doing here?’” Harendra says. Within a few hours of landing there, they discovered it wasn’t a pleasure tour. The country’s best players spent almost a week at the Indian Naval Academy doing things they never imagined. “They had to run while carrying giant barrels on their backs, spend sleepless nights in the jungle, live in a tent while it was raining hard, mosquitoes all over… The idea was in minimum facilities, they had to show the determination to do …