This time in 2024, when India’s hockey teams kick-started their Pro League commitments, the circumstances couldn’t have been more contrasting. The men were in an experimental mode, upbeat after the Asian Games and brimming with self-belief to finish on the Olympic podium again — which they did. The women’s team, meanwhile, were recovering from a heartbreak like never before. They failed to qualify for the Paris Games, which put many celebrated careers in a spot of bother. And the then-coach, Janneke Schopman, lashed out heavily at the administration.
A year on, they return to the competition in different moods and ambitions. Craig Fulton and Harmanpreet Singh’s men are strutting around with an aura around them; not necessarily of invincibility — that they are not — but one of them being taken seriously in world hockey. In Salima Tete, the women have a new leader; the old guard have stayed on and with the Olympic setback now behind them, the Harendra Singh-coached team once again seems to have the wind in their sails. And later this week, they will face their former coach Schopman, who returns to India as Germany’s coach.
These storylines provide fascinating context to the Pro League, a competition that has seen its significance rise after it got the status of a 2026 World Cup qualifier, with the winner getting an automatic spot.
For the Indian teams that finished in the bottom half last season, it’ll take something special to challenge for the title, more so for the women who have consistently struggled to beat teams ranked higher than them. Yet, they are banking on the ‘Hockey India League factor’.
“We are still in that momentum,” says former captain Savita Punia. “We have seen in the past how much the HIL had an impact on the men’s team. Hopefully, we will see the same with women’s hockey.”
Can we see the HIL effect?
The HIL hangover is yet to subside. Savita said how most of India’s players, be it a veteran like her or the rookies in the team, observed the foreign stars closely — from technical stuff to off-the-field conduct. Suddenly, some of the players who shared the dressing room just weeks ago in club colours will now be in the opposing dugouts for their country.
Over on the men’s side, Harmanpreet couldn’t stop talking about how impressive his defence and drag-flick partner Jugraj Singh was. The duo, divided by clubs, will reunite with the national team with the hope that Jugraj continues his good form and cements his place as a worthy back-up — and a long-term replacement — for Harmanpreet.
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Fulton might be tempted to experiment more than he did in the previous season, given the bloated squad of 34 players he has chosen for this competition. An area on the field which he is likely to tinker the most is the forward line. Youngsters like Araijeet Singh Hundal, Angad Bir Singh, and Arshdeep Singh could be given a look-in given that transition phase involving some seniors is imminent over the next two years.
Harendra might not have the same luxury in terms of the depth in the player pool as Fulton. Yet, he will have some wiggle room this year given there aren’t any major championships scheduled. “So I hope to identify my core group of 24 by the end of this round of Pro League and then work with them further,” he said. “Those players will be in my World Cup plans, more or less. We are better than what the rankings suggest and given the time we have, I believe we can aim for the semifinals at the World Cup. That’s the target we have kept for ourselves.”
The road to that begins in Bhubaneswar, starting Saturday.
India’s Pro League fixtures:
Feb 15 and 16: Men — vs Spain; Women — vs England
Feb 18 and 19: Men — vs Germany; Women — vs Spain
Feb 21 and 22: Men — vs Ireland; Women — vs Germany
Feb 24 and 25: Men — vs England; Women — vs The Netherlands
