China stunned Pakistan 2-0 in the shoot-out to enter the final of Hero Asian Champions Trophy for the first time in the history of the tournament.
India captain Sardar Singh asserted that they have a lot to play for in the ongoing Hockey World League Semifinals.
India lost 2-4 against the Netherlands in shootout after their return leg FIH Pro League match ended in a 1-1 draw in Rourkela on Wednesday.
Toppo is a product of the Sports Hostel, Panposh, Rourkela. She first represented her state team in 2007 and her performances in domestic competitions saw her getting selected for U-18 Girls Asia Cup in Bangkok, Thailand in 2011 where India won a bronze medal. She was first selected to represent the senior national team in 2012 in the FIH Champions Challenge I in Dublin.
India will play Germany on June 8 in their next match at the same venue.
Sonam's breakout performance in the inaugural Women's HIL season has earned her a spot among reserves in the national camp for the Bhubaneswar leg of the Women's Pro League beginning on February 15.
The prolific drag-flicker said the series would be an opportunity to test the team further after its title-winning run in the Asian Champions Trophy in China earlier this month.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Putting up a dominating show, India scored in three of the four quarters to outplay Poland 3-1 to clinch the FIH World Hockey League Round 2 at Major Dhyan Chan stadium, in New Delhi on Sunday.
Alexander Hendrickx (24th, 43rd) scored a brace for Vedanta Kalinga Lancers while Tom Craig (31st) and Jip Janssen (51st) found the target for Tamil Nadu Dragons at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
JSW Soorma Hockey Club earned a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Delhi SG Pipers in the Women's Hockey India League.
Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh's heroics saw India pull off a thrilling 8-7 shootout win against Spain.
Varun Kumar converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute to hand India the lead before Simranjeet Singh (55th) scored a diving field goal from skipper Manpreet Singh's brilliant pass to secure full three points for the five-time champions.
Gurjant Singh (10th minute) gave Soorma the lead early in the game while Jugraj Singh (56th) equalised for the Tigers towards the end.
With this victory, Tamil Nadu Dragons consolidated their position at the top of the table with 15 points, while Delhi continued to remain winless and at the bottom of the standings.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers defeated Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 in a nail-biting match
Padma Bhushan recipient PR Sreejesh, a legendary Indian hockey goalkeeper, expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating that India has given him more than what he has contributed to the sport.
Sakshi Dhoni was seen cheering her husband's team Ranchi Rays during a Hockey Indian League match.
Hyderabad Toofans took a 2-0 lead through Amandeep Lakra (11th minute) and Gonzalo Peillat (13th) before Delhi SG Pipers drew level with goals from Dilraj Singh (21st) and Gareth Furlong (50th).
Dutchman Thiery Brinkman scored a brace as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers defeated Delhi SG Pipers 5-1 in a men's Hockey India League match.
Scoring field goals was a major concern in Paris but here the young forwardline comprising Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal and others have exceeded expectations.
The FIH Hockey Pro League matches between India and Great Britain, scheduled for May 8-9 in London, were on Wednesday postponed following the UK government's decision to add India to the travel 'red list'.
The star goalkeeper said Indian women's hockey has grown by leaps and bounds, offering financial independence to its players.
Holding on to a comfortable lead, Toofans pushed ahead for a third when Sam Ward's terrific stickwork saw him control an aerial ball and dribble his way into the box before earning a penalty corner.
The Indian men's hockey wound up its league stage engagements at the Olympics with a 4-2 victory over Japan and consolidated second place in Group A, behind Australia, on Friday.
The Indian men's hockey team bounced back with a comfortable win over Argentina in the FIH Hockey Pro League.
Jeremy Hayward (11th minute), Nicolas della Torre (35th), Harmanpreet Singh (50th) and Harish Somappa (52nd) scored for Soorma while Thierry Brinkman (5th), Sanjay (30th) and Gursahibjit Singh (50th) were on target for the Lancers.
Harmanpreet Singh got his mojo back as he scored a hat-trick to lead India to a rare 5-4 win over Australia
Navneet Kaur struck twice to help the Indian women's team register a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against hosts Spain.
Two FIH Pro League ties involving the senior men's team, junior men's Asia Cup and senior women's Asian Champions Trophy are among a host of international hockey events, where India was scheduled to take part, that have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pro League: India women suffer second straight loss to Belgium
India eye Paris revenge against Germany in Test series as international hockey returns to Delhi
The Pakistan hockey players were in for a shock when the Shiv Sena workers protested at the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
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.
In the ongoing FIH Pro Hockey League, India climbed to the top of the table with a win over world champions Germany in Rourkela on Monday.
India then went on to clinch the Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 with a dominant 4-0 win over Japan in the Final and achieved their best-ever FIH World Rankings (No. 6 with 2368.83 points) in November.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers secured a hard-fought 5-3 victory over UP Rudras in the Hockey India League, with Jugraj Singh scoring a brace and Gauthier Boccard, Sukhjeet Singh, and Abhishek also finding the back of the net.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers will play the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the first semi-final of the HIL on Friday, while JSW Soorma Hockey Club will take o Hyderabad Toofans in the second semi-final.
Both the Indian men's and women's teams will play against Spain on February 26 and 27 in a two-legged tie, followed by matches (both men's and women's) against Germany on March 12 and 13.
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