Latest news with #HockeyProLeague
News18
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Pakistan Hockey Team Invited To Join FIH Pro League After New Zealand Withdrawal
Last Updated: New Zealand withdrew from the FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season, prompting the FIH to invite runners-up Pakistan, who must confirm participation by August 12. Following New Zealand's decision to withdraw from the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season—despite having secured victory in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup last month—the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has extended an invitation to the tournament runners-up, Pakistan, in accordance with its regulations. The Pakistan Hockey Association has been given a deadline of August 12 to confirm whether they will accept or decline the invitation. The recently concluded 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League saw both Dutch national teams—men's and women's—claim the championship titles. The forthcoming season will mark the seventh edition of the league. India has suspended all bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it attributed to Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan's last visit to India was for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, where they finished fifth out of six competing teams. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated significantly in May during a four-day conflict that resulted in 70 fatalities, marking the worst violence between the two nations in decades. Pakistan had been scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup, set to be hosted in India next month. However, participation is now uncertain as the Pakistan Hockey Federation awaits government clearance to travel. 'After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk," a source from Pakistan's sports ministry told AFP. The same source confirmed that Pakistan would also skip the Junior World Cup, scheduled to be held in India this November. Once a dominant powerhouse in international hockey—with three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles—Pakistan has since declined to 15th in the global rankings. Pakistan's potential absence from the Asia Cup could jeopardize their qualification for the 2026 senior World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. A second government official confirmed the decision to AFP. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Hockey: India, Pakistan likely to renew rivalry as Green Shirts likely to be offered a spot next season
India and Pakistan could face each other in the next season of the hockey Pro League after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said on Monday that the Green Shirts could be offered a spot in case New Zealand do not participate. New Zealand are eligible to play in the top-tier of world hockey for the 2025-26 season after they won the FIH Nations Cup in Malaysia, beating Pakistan 6-2 in the final. However, they haven't yet confirmed their participation in the competition so far. The FIH said in a release on Monday that they have 'extended an invitation to Hockey New Zealand for their men's team to join Pro League again next season'. The world body added: 'Since New Zealand's hockey governing body is currently undertaking a thorough analysis and decision-making process in this regard, FIH has approved their request for an extension of the deadline to confirm or decline their participation until 21 July.' If New Zealand decide not the participate, the FIH said 'the runners-up of the Men's Nations Cup, namely Pakistan, would have the opportunity to consider joining the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League season.' A similar scenario has already transpired in the women's tournament where New Zealand did not accept the invitation to join the Pro League despite winning the Nations Cup, the FIH said. Their spot was handed over to Ireland, the second-placed team. 'Ireland was promoted through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup played in Chile earlier this year. Whilst New Zealand won that event against Ireland in the final, Hockey New Zealand later indicated that the Black Sticks would not proceed with the invitation to join Pro League this time. Therefore, as stipulated in the regulations, FIH extended the invitation to the runners-up, namely Ireland, who have confirmed their participation,' the FIH said. Pakistan's return to the Pro League would mean two more matches between the neighbours in the lead up to the Asian Games and the World Cup, if the two teams qualify. India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other in August-September at the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, and then later in the year at the Junior World Cup.
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Manpreet becomes second-highest capped Indian men's hockey player of all time with 400 international caps
India midfield maestro Manpreet Singh became the only second Indian hockey player to don the international cap for the 400th time when he took the field on Sunday for the Hockey Pro League 2024/25 match against Australia, adding his name to an elite list of legends who have graced the world stage with unwavering consistency and heart. The 33-year-old midfielder from Punjab, a place synonymous with Indian hockey folklore, now stands as the second-highest capped Indian men's player of all time, behind only former captain and current hockey India president Dilip Tirkey (412 caps). Speaking on the milestone, an emotional Manpreet said, "I still remember the goosebumps I felt in my debut game. To be standing here, 400 games later, is beyond anything I imagined. This milestone is shared with every coach who pushed me, every teammate who backed me, and every fan who believed in me when I needed it most. I'm still learning, still growing — and I play with the same hunger today as I did at 19." From his debut in 2011 as a spirited 19-year-old to becoming the heartbeat of the Indian midfield, Manpreet's career mirrors Indian hockey's resurgence. He has won four Asian Champions Trophy titles (2013, 2018, 2023, 2024), two Asian Games Gold medals (2014, 2023). two Olympic bronze medals (2020, 2024), two Commonwealth Games Silver medals (2014, 2022), podium finishes at the 2014-15 and 2016-17 FIH World League and Hockey Champions Trophy in 2018. Manpreet's consistency on the field has been matched by his recognition off it. His accolades underline his immense contribution to Indian sport. He was awarded Arjuna Award in 2018, became FIH Men's Player of the Year in 2019, conferred with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 along with Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Player of the Year in 2019 and Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year – 2014, 2021, Hockey India chief and the only Indian player ahead of Manpreet in the all-time caps list, lauded the achievement and stated, "Very few athletes achieve this level of consistency and endurance. Manpreet has been the spine of Indian hockey through its most transformative decade. His fitness, leadership, and composure under pressure set him apart. We are proud to see him carry forward the legacy with such grace." Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh added, '400 caps is not just a number — it's a legacy built on sacrifice, discipline, and devotion to the sport. Manpreet has set the bar for professionalism and pride in wearing the India jersey. He has been a true ambassador of Indian hockey and a generational role model.'
India Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
India announce team for FIH Hockey Pro League European leg, squad size reduced to 24
Hockey India has announced the men's squad for the upcoming European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League, which is scheduled to take place in Amstelveen, the Netherlands and Antwerp, Belgium from 7th to 22nd June 2025. The squad size has been reduced from 32 to 24 with Harmanpreet Singh being the captain and Hardik Singh working as his deputy. The squad size was 32 during the home leg of the tournament. advertisementIndia will begin their European leg with two matches each against the Netherlands on 7th and 9th June, followed by the double header against Argentina on 11th and 12th June in Amstelveen. This will be followed by a trip to Antwerp to take on Australia on 14th and 15th June, before facing Belgium on 21st and 22nd Full coverage Speaking about the squad selection, coach Craig Fulton said that they were looking to add more experience this time around and the side has been training well. Fulton also said that he wants to draw a few games and take into shoot-outs and still get points on the board. 'We wanted a bit more experience in the squad this time around, and I am really happy with the selection. The team has been training well as we're looking to try and push as hard as possible and win the Pro League. Since there's qualification for the World Cup on the line, we want to try and get as many points to put ourselves in a good position for that.'advertisement'We haven't drawn any games so far in the tournament and I believe we need to turn our losses into draws and then go for a shootout, so if we don't really get the desired results, we can still get points on the board. We also need to improve our penalty corner conversion rate so yes, we've got some good objectives to try and achieve this time around,' he played the home leg of the Hockey Pro League 2024-25 in Bhubaneswar, where they got 15 points with five wins in eight games and now stand third in the points table. The top team in the Hockey Pro League will secure direct qualification to the 2026 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup. Indian Men's Hockey Team for FIH Pro League 2024-25 European Leg:GOALKEEPERS: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj KarkeraDEFENDERS: Sumit, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach MIDFIELDERS: Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh (VC), Rajinder Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh FORWARDS: Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh
