FIH Pro League: Indian Women’s Hockey Team Aims for Strong Finish Against Netherlands

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Indian women’s hockey team is determined to conclude the home leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 on a positive note as they gear up to face the reigning champions, the Netherlands at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on February 24 and 25.

Following a sequence of mixed performances, the Salima Tete-led Indian squad aims to harness their recent momentum and achieve a significant upset by defeating the highly-ranked Dutch team.

India commenced their journey with an exciting 3-2 victory over England but faced defeat in the subsequent game during a 2-1 shootout after a 2-2 draw in regular time. The matches against Spain were quite challenging, with India narrowly losing both, first by 3-4 and then succumbing 1-0 in a fiercely contested match.

In their latest encounters against Germany, India suffered a 0-4 loss in the first leg but made a glorious comeback, securing a tight 1-0 win in the second leg, which significantly boosted their confidence ahead of the pivotal match against the Netherlands. Currently, India holds the seventh position in the points table with seven points from six matches, and they are eager to carry their high spirits into the forthcoming game.

The Netherlands, in stark contrast, are exhibiting formidable form, having convincingly triumphed over England with scores of 5-1 and 6-0 in their last two outings. They have achieved five victories and only one loss in their six matches, positioning them second in the points table with 15 points. The Dutch are keen to sustain their momentum and continue their remarkable streak in the tournament.

“The Netherlands are among the strongest teams globally, and we understand it will be a challenging match. However, we are driven to put forth our best effort and conclude the Indian leg of the tournament with a triumph. Our win against Germany has instilled confidence in us, and we have focused on addressing our weaknesses,” stated Salima Tete, the captain of the Indian team.

“We aim to maintain the same intensity and focus as in our previous match, and we are resolved to seize the opportunities we create. It’s a significant challenge, but as a team, we trust in our capabilities and are prepared to confront the Netherlands,” she added.

Remarkably, since 2013, India and the Netherlands have clashed seven times. In these encounters, the Netherlands has prevailed five times, while the Indian team has secured only one win, with one match finishing in a draw. This head-to-head history underscores the challenge India faces, yet it also presents them with the chance to level the odds with a robust performance in the upcoming FIH Pro League 2024-25 clash.

“The head-to-head record indicates that the Netherlands have been dominant, but we have faith that we can reverse the trend. Every match is a chance to grow as a team, so we will strive to deliver our best hockey. We are confident in our skills and will give everything to challenge them,” affirmed Salima Tete.