 "FIH Pro League: Where India men, women's hockey teams stand after legs in Antwerp, London")
India’s campaign at the FIH Pro League for the 2023-24 season ended recently, with both the men’s and women’s teams enduring a disappointing end to the tournament. While the women are currently placed in a lowly eighth place with as many as 13 defeats in 16 matches, the men have still enjoyed a better run of form and are in fourth place with 24 points. The women’s team, led by captain Salima Tete, could only accumulate eight points from the 16 matches.
India have completed their games in the ongoing season of the FIH Pro League but a majority of other teams are yet to complete their round of games. As a result, it’s pertinent to note that these standings are not final and can change according to the performances of teams.
Let’s now take a look at how both the men’s and women’s team have performed in the FIH Pro League:
India men’s team
#4 | Played: 16; Wins: 5; Draws: 6; Losses: 5; Shootout bonus: 3
The India men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, cannot finish at the top of the FIH Pro League standings now that they have completed all of their matches. India finished their campaign with five wins, six draws and five defeats. Three of these wins came via penalty shootouts, and they also did lose as many matches in similar fashion.
However, one of the major highlights of this India men’s hockey team has been how they have defeated some of the top teams in the sport. India beat Netherlands on penalty shootout 4-2, after scores were tied 2-2 after full time. They also got the better of Argentina (5-4) and Germany (3-0), with both these victories coming in their recent Antwerp and London legs of the FIH Pro League.
India, however, ended their season with three consecutive defeats in London, with two of these losses coming to Great Britain and one to Germany. Their brilliant display this season also means that India now cannot be relegated to the Nations Cup anymore. The team that finishes ninth at the end of the season gets relegated to the Nations Cup and currently in that place is Ireland with just six points.
India women’s team
#8 | Played: 16; Wins: 2; Draws: 1; Losses: 13; Shootout bonus: 1
This was the India women’s hockey team’s first season back in the FIH Pro League after missing out on the 2022-23 season. It’s safe to say that the Salima Tete-led side endured an underwhelming campaign this time around with just two wins in 16 matches.
Both their wins came during the Rourkela leg of the season in February, when they beat Australia 1-0 and United States 2-1 (via penalty shootouts). Their final match of the season was a 2-3 defeat to Great Britain in London. That loss meant that the Harendra Singh-coached side’s winless run extended to eight matches, having last won a game in February. India also lost a total of 13 matches in the season overall.
India, though, have ensured themselves of safety despite managing just eight points from 16 matches. United States, who are in ninth place, have also completed their quota of 16 matches and finished with four points, meaning they cannot overtake India. USA, as a result, will get relegated to the Nations Cup next season.
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