BERLIN, GERMANY – June 29, 2025 – The Indian women’s hockey team arduous campaign in the FIH Pro League 2024-25 concluded on a disappointed note, as they suffered during their eighth consecutive defeat, a 2-3 loss to China. This latest setback confirmed their relegation from the elite Pro League to the second-tier FIH Nations Cup for the upcoming season.
The team, already facing the prospect of relegation even before their final match, finished at the bottom of the nine-team standings with a meager 10 points from 16 matches. Their record of only two wins throughout the entire season underscored a challenging period for Indian women’s hockey on the international stage.
A Season of Struggle and Missed Opportunities
In their final Pro League fixture against China, India initially showed promise. Sunelita Toppa opened the scoring for India in the 9th minute with a well-executed reverse hit after receiving a pass from Neha Goyal. Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added another goal in the 38th minute from a set piece, giving India a 2-1 lead at one point.
However, China, despite trailing, displayed resilience. Zhang Ying converted two penalty corners in the 19th and 39th minutes, leveling the score twice. The decisive blow came in the 53rd minute when Xu Wenyu scored from another set piece, sealing the victory for China and condemning India to their eighth straight loss.
The match reflected a recurring theme for the Indian team throughout the European leg of the Pro League – an inability to convert opportunities and lapses in defensive solidity, particularly in conceding penalty corners. Head coach Harendra Singh has acknowledged these issues, noting the team’s need to improve “time and game management.”
Coach Points to Injuries and Young Squad
Speaking after the relegation, Coach Harendra Singh attributed part of the team’s struggles to the absence of several experienced players due to injuries, particularly in defense. “It’s a new team. Several experienced players were missing due to injuries, defence in particular,” Singh stated. He mentioned key players like Sushila Chanu (ACL tear), Nikki Pradhan, and Udita (hamstring problems) who were unavailable for the European leg.
Singh emphasized that while the results were disheartening, the team showed competitiveness in many games, aside from a couple of significant losses. He believes that the relegation to the Nations Cup, which India won in 2022 to earn promotion to the Pro League, might offer a crucial opportunity for the young squad to rebuild confidence by playing against teams of a similar or slightly lower ranking.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding for the Nations Cup
The relegation means India will now compete in the FIH Nations Cup in the next season. Only the winner of the Nations Cup will earn promotion back to the FIH Pro League for the 2026-27 season.
The Indian women’s hockey team, which achieved a commendable fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, now faces a critical period of rebuilding and restrategizing. The focus will be on integrating new talent, improving decision-making under pressure, and addressing defensive vulnerabilities as they aim to regain their place among the top-tier hockey nations.
