Accused of rape under the stringent POCSO act, Arjuna award-winning Indian hockey player Varun Kumar has withdrawn from the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar to explore his legal options against the allegation, which he described as a "calculated attempt to extort money" from him.
The Indian women's hockey team, having already secured a semifinal spot in the FIH Nations Cup, is set to face lower-ranked Uruguay in their final pool match. India aims to maintain their undefeated record and bolster confidence, especially as winning this tournament is crucial for their return to the elite FIH Pro League after being relegated last season. Coach Sjoerd Marijne hopes for improved field goal conversions and may experiment with combinations ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.
The Indian women's hockey team lost 0-3 to third ranked Australia, completing a hat-trick of defeats in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
It was stalwart India goalkeeper and former skipper Savita Punia's 300th international match but she was beaten in the seventh minute by a reverse hit from a Reijnen.
India's coach Sjoerd Marijne has criticised the tight scheduling at the FIH World Cup, particularly after his team's 0-2 loss to the Netherlands, citing the burden of playing on consecutive days.
India is set to face England in a critical FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match, aiming to overcome a 32-year World Cup drought against their European rivals. Following an opening win against Wales, India seeks to improve its performance, particularly in open play finishing, against a strong England side that started with a dominant victory over Pakistan. The outcome of this match is crucial for both teams' progression to the knockout stages.
Pakistan's national hockey team is facing significant challenges ahead of the final leg of the FIH Pro League in England, with captain Ammad Shakeel Butt's visa rejected and head coach Manzur-ul-Hasan also struggling to secure his travel documents. This comes amidst a dismal performance in the league and growing criticism over team management.
Pakistani hockey players are facing financial difficulties as they await pending dues from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Their daily training camp allowance has also been reduced ahead of the FIH World Cup.
India bounced back in style to beat title holders Australia 3-1 via a shoot-out after both the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
The Indian men's hockey team bounced back with a comfortable win over Argentina in the FIH Hockey Pro League.
Ahead of their crucial Hockey World Cup 2026 clash, the traditional India-Pakistan hockey rivalry faces an unusual question: will the teams shake hands? This comes after a similar debate in cricket. While the historical record is close, India has dominated recent encounters, winning decisively in the 2023 Asian Games and Pro League.
Pakistan's men's hockey team, led by Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, is preparing to face India in the upcoming FIH Pro League and the 2026 Hockey World Cup. Butt acknowledges India's strength but asserts Pakistan's readiness for a tough competition, focusing on rectifying past mistakes and enhancing key areas like attack and fitness.
India's men's hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes the squad can defeat any country if they stick to their game plan, following confidence-boosting victories against Germany and the Netherlands in the FIH Pro League, despite finishing eighth overall. The team's improved performance and maturity are seen as crucial stepping stones for upcoming major tournaments like the World Cup and Asian Games.
Germany, however, regained their lead in the blink of an eye as the ball again got the better of Pathak after it came off Prinz's stick.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday.
India's chances of reaching the Hockey World Cup semi-finals are slim, requiring a significant victory against Argentina and favourable results from the Netherlands-England match. The team must overcome their finishing struggles and defensive concerns to keep their hopes alive.
Indian women's hockey team captain Savita Punia believes their recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to challenge top teams and secure a podium finish at the upcoming World Cup.
Indian junior women's hockey team goes down against Germany
A pay dispute hit Pakistan hockey as some senior players threatened to boycott the men's FIH Pro League second phase in February.
Despite a tense final quarter that saw multiple penalty corners, Spain's defence stood firm to deny Germany an equaliser.
The Indian women's hockey squad for the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands has been announced, featuring the same 20 players selected for the Asian Games. Led by Salima Tete and coached by Sjoerd Marijne, the team is described as well-balanced, combining experienced players with promising young talent, fresh off an unbeaten victory at the FIH Nations Cup.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Harmanpreet scores twice as India thrash Belgium 5-1 in Pro League hockey match
The Indian men's hockey team delivered a commanding performance, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League's London leg. After conceding an early goal, India rallied with seven unanswered goals from multiple players, showcasing strong offensive and defensive play, with Hardik Singh named Player of the Match.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
India's frustrating FIH Women's Pro League campaign continued with the Salima Tete-led side suffering their third successive loss, a 1-4 defeat to world No.2 side Argentina
India go down to Germany 1-7 in Four-Nation junior hockey
India were 3-0 up in the 42nd minute before Paul-Philipp Kaufmann and Michel Struthoff struck for Germany in the 44th and 57th minutes respectively.
India's women's hockey team, led by captain Salima Tete, is confident of an improved performance in the upcoming Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Pro League.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
The Indian women's hockey team will tour Australia for a four-match series from May 21 to June 3 as part of its preparations for next month's Nation's Cup in New Zealand, which is a pathway to the elite FIH Pro League.
It was India who had the first opportunity to open the scoring but both the short corners went abegging as the home goalie foiled those attempts with his rock solid defence.
Former India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has advised the current national team to manage World Cup pressure by trusting their preparation and enjoying the occasion. He expressed optimism about India's chances, aiming for a top-four finish in the upcoming FIH World Cup.
Hockey India has announced a 36-member core probable group for the upcoming senior men's national coaching camp, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from April 20 to May 9.
Australia on Friday pulled out of several upcoming FIH tournaments, including the junior men's hockey World Cup slated to be held in India later this year, citing COVID-19 related government travel restrictions.
The 2026 men's hockey World Cup will be held from August 14 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.
The Pakistan government has revoked the two-year ban imposed on national hockey team skipper Ammad Shakeel Butt by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), deeming the ban illegal and unconstitutional. This decision follows Butt's criticism of the PHF's mismanagement during the recent Australia tour, which led to logistical nightmares for the team.
The Indian women's hockey team will participate in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, from June 15 to 21, following their relegation from the Hockey Pro League.
Olympic bronze medallist India began their FIH Pro League Hockey campaign with a bang as they thrashed France 5-0 in a thoroughly dominant display in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Tuesday.
Indian women's hockey captain Salima Tete believes the team's recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to compete for the top prize at the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, despite facing a challenging pool.
