The Indian Women's Hockey team faced a narrow defeat against Australia in their opening match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25, mirroring a similar result faced by the Men's team. In a closely contested game held in London on Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Indian team fought hard but ultimately succumbed to a 3-2 loss.
India, currently ranked 6th with 9 points, is in Europe for the second and final leg of the Pro League, where they are scheduled to play against Australia, Argentina, Belgium, and China. The team's captain, Salima Tete, emphasized their aim to defeat higher-ranked teams and has been reviewing past performances to improve weaknesses and build on strengths.
The match against Australia saw India concede three goals but displayed resilience in their comeback attempt. While the team showed greatvalour, they were unable to equalize, resulting in a disappointing loss. This mirrors the struggles of the Indian Men's Hockey Team, who are also facing Australia in Antwerp and are aiming to bounce back from recent defeats.
The Men's team, currently ranked 5th with 15 points, is also looking to secure crucial points to maintain their position in the top three. Captain Harmanpreet Singh stressed the importance of winning against Australia to gain momentum. The Men's team has been struggling with defensive lapses and inefficient penalty corner conversions, areas they need to improve to achieve better results. In their match today, India took an early lead in the first quarter, with the score at 1-0.
Both the Men's and Women's teams are striving to improve their performance in the Pro League. The Women's team will play Australia again on June 15, followed by matches against Argentina on June 17 and 18. They will then move to Antwerp to face Belgium on June 21 and 22, and conclude their Pro League campaign against China in Berlin on June 28 and 29.
These matches are crucial for both teams as they aim to climb up the FIH Pro League standings and prepare for future international competitions. The focus remains on addressing weaknesses, capitalizing on strengths, and securing victories to boost their rankings and confidence.
