New Delhi: The Indian men’s senior hockey team concluded their campaign in the FIH Pro League 2022–23 with a commendable fourth-place finish, accumulating 30 points from 16 matches. This marks India’s second consecutive fourth-place finish in the league, following their debut season in 2020–21. The team showed significant improvement in the 2021–22 season by securing the third spot.
Under the guidance of coach Craig Fulton, the Indian team showcased their prowess in the first leg of the tournament played on home soil. They exhibited a dominant performance, winning five matches, drawing two, and suffering only one defeat, a close 3-2 encounter against Spain in Bhubaneswar. Notably, they secured victories against reigning world champions Germany, triumphing 3-2 and 6-3, and emerged victorious in a thrilling 5-4 match against Commonwealth Games champions Australia before winning the subsequent match 4-3 on penalties.
However, the second leg held in Europe proved to be more challenging for the Indian team. Despite entering the leg as the points leaders, they managed only three wins, four losses, and a draw. Notable victories came against Argentina and Belgium, with two wins against Argentina. Nevertheless, they faced defeats in both their matches against the Netherlands, who ultimately claimed the league title.
India concluded their campaign on a positive note with a convincing 2-0 win over Argentina. Although it did not result in their maiden title, the team displayed resilience and determination throughout the tournament.
The Netherlands successfully defended their championship, securing first place with 35 points, edging out Great Britain (32 points) due to a higher number of victories (10 wins compared to India’s eight). New Zealand finished at the bottom of the standings with only three points, leading to their demotion to the FIH Men’s Nations Cup for the upcoming season.
A notable achievement for the Indian team was their impressive performance in shootouts during the FIH Pro League 2022–23. They emerged victorious in all three shootouts they participated in, defeating Spain 3-1 and Great Britain 4-2.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh stood out as the top scorer in the tournament, securing the highest number of goals with 18. Known for his prowess in penalty corner conversions, Singh also topped the goal-scoring charts in the previous season with the same tally of 18 goals.
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