NEW DELHI: The Indian Men’s Hockey Team is ready for the FIH Pro League 2024-25. Ranked 5th in the world, India opens its campaign at Kalinga Hockey Stadium. Their first two matches are against World No. 7 Spain on 15th and 16th February. They will then face Germany, ranked 4th, on 18th and 19th February.
India is coming off a great season. They won a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They also defended their title at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024. In a two-match test series against Germany, India showed their strength. Despite losing the first match, they won the second 5-3. Their performance built confidence for the Pro League.
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THE NEW INDIAN Asks: “India’s New Team Dynamic After Paris Olympics”
Tejasvi Pandey from THE NEW INDIAN asked, “India had a great match against India in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Do you see this as an opportunity to hear from India’s audience? As I mentioned earlier, it’s like a new team, a very different team from the one that played in Paris.”
England Captain Tim Nurse replied, “We’re really looking forward to it. The past few years have been full of exciting matches. Both teams are evenly matched. The result is not most important right now. Both will give their best.”
Harmanpreet Singh will lead the team. Hardik Singh will be his deputy. The team includes senior players like Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh. Young talents like Araijeet Singh Hundal and Arshdeep Singh bring fresh energy. These players will drive India’s pursuit of a top spot in the Pro League.
India’s Determination to Shine in Pro League
India aims to finish first and secure a 2026 World Cup spot. They finished seventh last season but are determined to improve. Harmanpreet highlighted the importance of the Pro League. It marks the start of the Olympic cycle and prepares them for the Asia Cup 2025.
Harmanpreet said, “The Pro League gives us a great opportunity to test where we stand. We’ll take it match-by-match.”
As India starts their journey, they are determined to prove themselves. With a mix of experience and youth, they are ready to fight for the top spot in the Pro League.
All the FIH Pro League 2024-25 matches will be streamed live on Hotstar and broadcast on Star Sport Select 2.
