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The Indian men's hockey team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, has concluded their FIH Pro League campaign with a commendable performance, finishing fourth in the points tally with 24 points from 16 matches. The team's journey included five wins, three shootout victories, five defeats, and three shootout losses.Harmanpreet Singh, the star drag-flicker, emerged as a standout performer, finishing as the top scorer for India with 12 goals. He also holds the joint lead in the tournament's scoring charts alongside Australia's Blake Govers and the Netherlands' Jip Janssen. Singh's scoring prowess was evident as he netted eight goals from penalty corners and four from penalty strokes.The FIH Pro League has served as a valuable preparatory event for the Indian team ahead of the Paris Olympics. The tournament provided the team with an opportunity to compete against top-tier teams and assess their strengths and areas for improvement."This league has been crucial in helping us understand our strengths and areas for improvement. Competing against top-tier teams has given us valuable insights into our game," said Harmanpreet Singh. "We now know where we stand and what we need to work on to perform at our best on the global stage."The Indian team will now take a short break before assembling for a brief camp in Bengaluru. "We have identified specific aspects of our game that need attention, and the upcoming camp will be vital in working on those areas," said Harmanpreet. "Our goal is to build on our performance and ensure we are fully prepared for the Paris Olympics."

The Indian women's hockey team's European leg of the FIH Pro League has taken a disappointing turn as they suffered a second consecutive defeat, this time to Belgium by a score of 1-2. The loss marks the team's seventh straight defeat against Belgium in international matches.Under the guidance of new coach Harendra Singh and captain Salima Tete, the Indian team has struggled to find its footing in the tournament. After a 0-5 thrashing by Argentina on Wednesday, they were hoping to bounce back against Belgium. However, the home side proved to be too strong, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half.Belgium's goals came from penalty corners, with Ambre Ballenghien scoring in the 14th minute and Vanessa Blockmans adding another in the 20th. India managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through a field goal by Kumari Sangita, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.Belgium's relentless pressure and effective penalty corner conversions proved to be the difference in the match. The Indian team struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities they had.Despite the setbacks, the Indian team showed glimpses of their potential. They withstood Belgium's initial pressure and began to dominate possession in the second quarter. However, they were unable to sustain their momentum and Belgium regained control of the game.In the third quarter, India managed to score a goal through Sangita, but Belgium continued to threaten their defense. The final quarter saw both teams create chances, but neither could find the back of the net.The defeat leaves the Indian women's hockey team with a lot of work to do. They will face Argentina again on Sunday in their next match and will be hoping to end their losing streak and secure their first points in the tournament.

Hockey India has announced a 28-member core probable group for the men's national coaching camp, aiming to address weaknesses ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The camp commenced on Sunday at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru and will continue until May 13.The team returns to camp after a disappointing 0-5 loss in a five-match Test series in Australia. Chief coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of this camp in preparing for the upcoming challenges. "We are looking to begin an important block of training in this camp, and we need to make sure that we are in the best shape possible ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics," Fulton said. "We have an exciting group of experienced players along with some young players."The core group includes experienced players such as goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, defender Harmanpreet Singh, and midfielder Manpreet Singh. Young talents like forward Akashdeep Singh and midfielder Hardik Singh are also part of the squad.The team will travel to Belgium and London for the next two legs of the FIH Pro League after this camp. They will face Argentina, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain in these matches."The tour to Australia has helped us in realizing where we need to work on and I always believe that we can work on our shortcomings and look to set things straight well before the final leg of the Pro League and the Paris 2024 Olympics," Fulton added.The camp and subsequent Pro League matches will provide the team with valuable opportunities to improve their performance and build momentum towards the Paris Olympics.

In a thrilling encounter, India and the Netherlands locked horns in the second leg of their FIH Pro League match in Rourkela, Odisha. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to a shootout where the Netherlands emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline.The Netherlands drew first blood early in the game when Floris Middendorp scored in the fourth minute, marking his first international goal. India fought back and found the equalizer through vice-captain Hardik Singh in the 38th minute, keeping the match level.The shootout proved to be a tense affair, with Araijeet Singh Hundal and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay scoring for India. However, Sukhjeet Singh and Shamsher Singh missed their attempts, handing the Netherlands the victory and two points. India managed to secure one point from the match.The match witnessed intense pressure from both teams, with India applying early pressure but failing to capitalize on their chances. The Netherlands took the lead with their first circle entry, showcasing their clinical finishing. India's goalkeeper, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, made some impressive saves, denying the Netherlands from extending their lead.The second quarter saw a neck-and-neck battle, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. India's defenders marked the Dutch players tightly, preventing them from creating clear-cut chances. In the 27th minute, Sukhjeet Singh thought he had equalized for India, but the goal was disallowed due to a body hit. India's video referral was unsuccessful in overturning the decision.After the break, the match continued to be fast-paced and end-to-end. India earned their first penalty corner three minutes into the third quarter, but skipper Harmanpreet Singh failed to beat the Dutch first rusher. Eight minutes later, India secured another penalty corner, and this time Hardik Singh scored from a rebound, leveling the score.The final quarter was a hard-fought battle, with both teams penetrating each other's circles but failing to find the winning goal. The Netherlands earned a penalty corner, but India's first rusher, Manpreet Singh, bravely defended to deny the Dutch.India will now face Australia on Saturday before concluding their Pro League home campaign against Ireland on Sunday.