HIL 2024-25: Bengal Tigers Clash with Tamil Nadu Dragons; Soorma Faces Hyderabad Toofans in Semifinals
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On January 30, 2024, four top-performing teams from the Men's Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 are set to compete in the semifinals, aiming for the prestigious title. The matches feature the Bengal Tigers against Tamil Nadu Dragons and JSW Soorma Hockey Club facing Hyderabad Toofans.
Key Takeaways
- Bengal Tigers topped the group stage with 19 points.
- JSW Soorma also achieved 19 points but had a lower goal difference.
- Hyderabad Toofans secured third place with 18 points and a strong goal difference.
- Tamil Nadu Dragons finished fourth with 18 points despite a negative goal difference.
- Upcoming matches are set to take place at Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium.
Rourkela, Jan 30 (NationPress) Four highly competitive teams from the Men's Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 are set to take the field on Friday for the semifinal round, each aiming to move closer to the prestigious title. The Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Hyderabad Toofans, and Tamil Nadu Dragons emerged from an exciting group stage of the HIL, which concluded on Wednesday, securing the top four positions in the standings.
Advancing to this stage meant that Delhi SG Pipers, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Team Gonasika, and UP Rudras were eliminated from the competition.
The semifinals, taking place on Friday at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, will see the Bengal Tigers go up against the Tamil Nadu Dragons, while the JSW Soorma Hockey Club will compete against the Hyderabad Toofans.
The Bengal Tigers dominated the group stage with 19 points from 10 matches, achieving six victories, three losses in regular time, and one defeat in a shootout. Jugraj Singh has been the standout player for the team, scoring nine goals. “It’s been a rollercoaster journey, with both wins and losses along the way. But I’m pleased we’ve achieved our first goal of reaching the semifinals. Moving forward, we’ll focus on executing our strategies and plans on the field to get the best results,” stated Bengal Tigers Captain Rupinder Pal Singh.
The JSW Soorma Hockey Club also collected 19 points from 10 matches, with four wins, two losses in regular time, three shootout wins, and one defeat. Despite sharing the same point total as the Tigers, they had a goal difference of +1 compared to the Tigers’ +2. Harmanpreet Singh, the team's captain, leads the scoring with five goals. “We didn’t have the ideal start, struggling to get the results we wanted initially. However, we kept improving with each match, and that helped us get back on track. We even performed well under pressure in some of our recent games. But the real challenge starts now, and we want to be fully prepared. We know our strengths and weaknesses, so we’ll train and plan for the semifinals accordingly,” remarked Harmanpreet Singh.
The Hyderabad Toofans secured third place with 18 points, thanks to four regular wins, two shootout victories, and a goal difference of +10. Both Tim Brand and Gonzalo Peillat scored six goals each for the team. “As a team, our journey has been solid so far. The young players, in particular, have stepped up and delivered. Competing in a league like this is challenging with the high level of competition and players from around the world. But the communication and camaraderie within our team have been excellent, and I’m confident we’ll continue to perform at our best in the upcoming matches,” stated Hyderabad Toofans Captain Sumit.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Dragons clinched the fourth position with 18 points, registering four wins and two shootout victories, but finishing the group stage with a goal difference of -1. Jip Janssen has been their top scorer with six goals. “The journey through the 10 group games was thrilling, full of ups and downs. Each match taught us something new, and we enjoyed every moment. First, we were excited about the return of Hero HIL after seven years, and now, we’re excited to play in the semifinals. We’re looking forward to putting our best foot forward in the upcoming games,” expressed Tamil Nadu Dragons Skipper Amit Rohidas. “Also, the crowd support has been incredible, and I want to thank all the fans who came to the stadium and cheered for us. I encourage them to keep supporting us by coming out for the semifinals and showing their continued support,” he added.
Regarding previous matchups, the Tigers lost 2-1 to the Dragons, while the Soorma’s match against the Toofans ended in a 1-1 draw, with the Toofans winning 4-3 in the shootout.
