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FIH Pro League: India yet to put its winning foot forward
India now plays Argentina on June 11 and 12 before taking on Australia on June 14 and 15 in the remaining games of the European leg.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Mon, 09, Jun 2025
- 16:25 EDT
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India sits at fourth position with five wins and as many losses. / X@TheHockeyIndia
Ruing the poor conversion of penalty corners it got against the Netherlands in its first two games of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2025, India may have underwritten its chances of seeking a direct qualification to the next FIH World Cup.
On the other hand, the Netherlands boosted its title hopes and a direct qualification to the World Cup, with a riveting 3-2 win over a fired-up Indian side, which was left to rue a poor conversion rate from its nine penalty corners.
At the end of its 10 games in the FIH Pro League so far, India sits at fourth position with five wins and as many losses with a tally of 15 points behind the leaders the Netherlands (20 points from 10 games with four wins and two losses), England (16 points from eight games with four wins and two losses and Belgium (16 points from eight games with four wins and one loss).
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Both India and the Netherlands created great scoring opportunities in the opening quarter, Abhishek and Shilanand Lakra missing narrowly for India, and Tjep Hoedemakers clattering one into the post for the Netherlands. India held the initial advantage, though, making numerous pass intercepts and one-on-one steals that led to regular circle entries.
India carried its momentum into the second period and went ahead in the 20th minute. Playing in his 100th match for India, Abhishek sent a blistering strike into the roof of the net. The Dutch gradually settled into the game, though, and equalised four minutes later. Captain Thierry Brinkman crabbed some distance along the baseline before popping the ball across goal for Thijs van Dam to swat it in from waist height. The scores were locked 1-1 at half time.
A Tough Loss For India.
— IndiaSportsHub (@IndiaSportsHub) June 9, 2025
We lost first match 1-2
We lost second match 2-3
India now at 4th place While Netherlands top the rankings #FIHProLeague https://t.co/jSAjN3PXRM pic.twitter.com/5YaquoeUYP
Tjep Hoedemakers gave the hosts the lead in the 33rd minute, when his high-quality deflection from close range gave goalkeeper Pathak no chance to adjust his angles. Pathak got a good touch to disrupt the Dutch a couple of minutes later, though, and India finished the third period in the ascendancy with a flurry of attacks and penalty corners.
With just one goal separating the teams, there was no thought of playing conservatively in the final quarter. Both teams had chances before Jugraj Singh equalised for India with a 54th-minute drag flick. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay then very nearly upset the home fans, stealing a loose ball off the last Dutch defender, but his cheeky lobbed shot was gloved away by a frantically backpedalling Maurits Visser. The winning goal came with just three minutes remaining, when Jip Janssen's drag flick sealed the victory for the Dutch.
Derck de Vilder, who received the player of the match award for the Netherlands, said: "I think it was a hard game, especially the second half. India came out hard, and we had a lot of trouble with their pressing."
India now plays Argentina on June 11 and 12 before taking on Australia on June 14 and 15 in the remaining games of the European leg.
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