The Indian men’s hockey team, ranked fifth in the world, is gearing up to begin their FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
Led by Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee Harmanpreet Singh, India will face World No. 7 Spain on February 15 and 16, followed by tough encounters with World No. 4 Germany on February 18 and 19. India’s home advantage provides a great opportunity to build on their recent momentum. The team will also clash with Ireland on February 21 and 22 before facing World No. 2 England on February 24 and 25.
Having secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Indian team has proven their strength on the international stage. Their recent home Test series against Germany saw India recover from a 2-0 defeat in the first game to win 5-3 in the second. Despite losing the series in a shootout, the competitive performances added to their confidence heading into the Pro League.
India also defended their Asian Champions Trophy title in September 2024, winning all matches and reaffirming their dominance in Asia.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh will support Harmanpreet Singh in leading a squad that blends experience with youthful energy. Senior players like Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, and Vivek Sagar Prasad provide a strong backbone, while emerging talents such as Araijeet Singh Hundal and Angad Bir Singh add fresh skills to the lineup.
After finishing seventh in last year’s Pro League, India is determined to improve this season and target the top spot, which would secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
“This year marks the start of our new Olympic cycle, and the Pro League is crucial for us,” Harmanpreet Singh said. “Spain, Germany, and England are strong teams, but we are confident and will take it match by match.”
Chief coach Craig Fulton emphasized the significance of the tournament, noting, “With back-to-back matches, performance is our priority. While other teams have already played matches in Europe, we aim to start strong here and win.”
The Indian team is eager to make their mark in this high-stakes competition, with hopes of a successful campaign ahead.
(With IANS inputs)
