The Indian women's hockey team suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against China in the FIH Pro League 2024-25, marking their eighth consecutive loss and confirming their relegation to the FIH Nations Cup. The match, played in Berlin on Saturday, saw China dominate with goals from Chen Yang (21'), Zhang Ying (26'), and Anhui Yu (45'). India's poor performance throughout the European leg of the Pro League has placed them at the bottom of the standings, with their relegation sealed even before their final match against China on Sunday.

India started the match with promise, securing an early penalty corner in the fourth minute, but failed to convert. Baljeet Kaur had another opportunity, but her shot went wide. China quickly gained momentum, earning their first penalty corner and subsequently scoring in the 21st minute through Chen Yang. Zhang Ying added another goal from a penalty corner in the 26th minute, giving China a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The Indian team showed more aggression in the third quarter, launching persistent attacks, but they were unable to penetrate China's strong defense. China further extended their lead in the 45th minute with a field goal from Anhui Yu. India's Deepika missed a crucial penalty stroke in the 55th minute, which ultimately sealed India's fate.

The loss against China was India's tenth in 15 games in the FIH Pro League season. They only managed to win two matches, with their last victory occurring in February against the Netherlands. The team's struggles were attributed to several factors, including poor penalty corner defense, impatient build-up play, lack of imagination in attack, and an inability to finish scoring opportunities.

With relegation confirmed, India will now compete in the FIH Nations Cup, a second-tier competition. To return to the FIH Pro League, they must win the Nations Cup. Relegation is a significant setback for India, especially with the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games. The Pro League provides valuable experience through regular matches against top-tier teams, which the Nations Cup cannot replicate.

In their final match of the FIH Pro League season on Sunday, India faced China again, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat. Despite goals from Sunelita Toppo (9') and Rujuta Pisal (38'), China secured the win with goals from Ying Zhang (19', 30') and Xu Wenyu (53'). This loss marked India's eighth consecutive defeat and cemented their last-place finish in the league standings.