New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Hockey India on Thursday announced the 24-member men’s squad that will participate in the Bhubaneswar and Rourkela legs of the FIH Pro League 2023-24.

The Bhubaneswar leg will begin on February 10 and end on February 16 while the Rourkela leg will commence on February 19 and conclude on February 25.

India will play against Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Australia twice each across both legs, beginning their campaign against Spain on February 10.

Taking charge of the team will be the seasoned duo of captain Harmanpreet Singh, known for his drag-flicking prowess, and vice-captain Hardik Singh, an accomplished midfielder.

Speaking on the team selection, chief coach Craig Fulton said: “We’ve carefully selected a well-balanced squad, blending seasoned expertise with the vigour of youth. Our goal is to forge a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level.

“The FIH Pro League serves as an ideal platform to refine our strategies and measure our skills against top-tier opponents. The league’s significance is paramount, with champions earning a coveted spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.

“Additionally, it offers a valuable opportunity to pinpoint areas for enhancement, playing a pivotal role in our preparations for the Paris Olympics. We hold the belief that this exposure will elevate our performance and equip us to confront the impending challenges with confidence.”

Indian Men’s Hockey Team:

Goalkeepers: Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Krishan Bahadur Pathak

Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, Vishnukant Singh

Midfielders: Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Rabichandra Moirangthem

Forwards: Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Akashdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal

Cape Town, Jan 28 (IANS) The Indian men’s hockey team finished off their South Africa tour with a 1-5 loss against the World No.1 the Netherlands here on Sunday. While Abhishek (39′) scored the lone goal for India in the match, Jip Janssen (10′, 28′), Duco Telgenkamp (16′), Tjep Hoedemakers (21′) and Koen Bijen (35′) were on target for the Dutch side.

The match began with the Netherlands taking an early advantage as Janssen (10′) found the back of the nets in the 10th minute to give his side the lead. Despite repeated attacks, India were unable to cover the deficit by the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Telgenkamp (16′) doubled his side’s lead. Minutes later, Tjep Hoedemakers (21′) scored the third goal for the Netherlands, building more pressure on India. Jip Janssen (28′) scored late in the second quarter as the Dutch side went into halftime with a 4-0 lead.

India began searching for early goals in the second half, but Koen Bijen (35′) managed to get another goal for the Netherlands. Abhishek (39′) finally managed to get a goal back for India as the third quarter finished with India trailing 1-5.

India showcased urgency in the final 15 minutes but the Netherlands defence continued to thwart away any signs of attacks. India, too, remained firm in their defence in the last quarter, not allowing any more goals on their end. The match ended with Netherlands maintaining their 5-1 lead.

Muscat (Oman), Jan 26 (IANS) The Indian women’s team was absolutely dominant in their 11-1 win over New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup 2024. India will next play South Africa in the semifinal.

The match was full of action right from the get-go as New Zealand took the lead courtesy of a goal from Oriwa Hepi (2’) but India equalised within fifteen seconds as Deepika Soreng (2’) found the back of the net with an astonishing finish.

India didn’t let up on the high intensity they brought into the game and it paid off as Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (9’) scored to put India in the lead before Mumtaz Khan (10’, 11’) quickly fired back-to-back goals.

The goal-fest continued with India again scoring two more quick goals, this time from Mariana Kujur (13’, 14’) as the first half ended with India leading 6-1.

India’s control of proceedings continued and Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (22’) scored her second goal of the match as India took a massive six-goal lead. Deepika Soreng (25’) also brought up her second goal before Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (26’, 28’) added two more goals to her tally. Deepika Soreng (29’) then scored another goal to complete her hat-trick as India won the game 11-1.

Muscat, Jan 25 (IANS) India won their final Pool C match of the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup 2024 against Namibia 7-2 and qualified for the quarterfinals having finished on top of their group.

India will play New Zealand, the second-placed team in Pool D, on January 26 for a place in the semifinals.

India came into the game against Namibia with their confidence riding high after back-to-back wins against Poland and the USA. They had Namibia on the backfoot within no time having scored two goals in the first four minutes of the game. The first goal came from Vice Captain Mahima Choudhary (3’) while the second was scored by Deepika Soreng (4’).

No further goals were scored in the first half but it was evident that India were in complete control of the game as the score read 2-0 at half-time.

Namibia scored their first goal of the game early in the second half with Jivanka Kruger (18’) opening their account but India quickly retaliated as Mahima Choudhary (19’) scored her second goal to help India regain their two-goal lead.

Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (22’) and Akshata Abaso Dhekale (23’) added to India’s tally before Deepika Soreng (26’) scored her second goal as India led 6-1 with four minutes left on the clock.

Ajmina Kujur (28’) too scored for India before Anthea Coetzee (30’) scored Namibia’s second goal as India went on to win the match 7-2.

Bengaluru, Jan 25 (IANS) Setting off from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Thursday morning, the Indian team embarked on their journey to Muscat, Oman, for the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey5s Men’s World Cup.

Securing their spot in the tournament by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 4-4 (0-2 SO) in the thrilling Final of the Men’s Asian Hockey5s World Cup Qualifier, India find itself placed in Pool B, alongside Egypt, Jamaica, and Switzerland.

The other teams in the fray include the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan and Poland in Pool A and Pool C features Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, and Trinidad & Tobago while Pool D includes Fiji, Malaysia, Oman and the United States.

India’s campaign kicks off with a match against Switzerland on January 28, followed by a clash with Egypt on the same day. India’s final group game will be against Jamaica on January 29.

The Quarter-Finals are scheduled for January 30, with the semifinals taking place on the same day, and the Final set to take place on January 31.

The Indian team, led by experienced forward Simranjeet Singh, an Olympic Bronze medallist, and vice-captained by defender Mandeep Mor, boasts a formidable lineup that includes goalkeepers Suraj Karkera and Prashant Kumar Chauhan. Mandeep Mor, alongside Manjeet, will be pivotal in the defence, while the midfield will be commanded by Mohd Raheel Mouseen and Maninder Singh.

The forward line features Pawan Rajbhar, Gurjot Singh, and Uttam Singh, complementing the leadership of Captain Simranjeet.

Before departing to Oman, captain Simranjeet stated: “It’s an honour to lead the team into the FIH Hockey5s Men’s World Cup. We’ve worked hard to earn our place in this prestigious tournament, and each player is committed to giving their best on the field. We’re excited for the challenge, and with the support of our fans, we aim to make our country proud.”

Echoing similar thoughts, vice-captain Mandeep said: “Being appointed the Vice Captain is a responsibility I embrace with pride. Our team is a cohesive unit, and we’re geared up for the tough competition ahead. We’ve shown our mettle in the qualifiers, and now, we are focused on delivering strong performances in the World Cup. With the support of our teammates and the coaching staff, we are determined to leave a mark in Oman and bring home a gold medal.”