FIH Pro League: India Aims to Sustain Winning Streak Against Germany
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Indian men's hockey team is gearing up to face Germany in the FIH Pro League 2024-25 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, aiming to build on their recent victory. With a focus on improving their penalty corner conversion, the team is motivated to secure vital points against a competitive German side.
Key Takeaways
- India eyes to sustain its winning momentum.
- Focus on improving penalty corner conversions.
- Germany seeks to turn their campaign around.
- Key players include Harmanpreet Singh and Raphael Hartkopf.
- Matches to be streamed live on JioHotstar.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (NationPress) After a shaky start to their FIH Pro League 2024-25 season, the Indian men’s hockey team, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh, is set to face Germany in upcoming matches at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium here. Following a 3-1 defeat against Spain in their first match, India bounced back with a strong 2-0 victory in their second game and is keen to maintain their winning momentum against the German squad.
With three points from two matches, India currently occupies the eighth position in the standings and aims to climb higher.
A critical focus for the team is to enhance their penalty corner conversion rate. Despite securing seven penalty corners across their two encounters with Spain, India was unable to convert any into goals. The team will strive to improve their execution in set-pieces as they prepare for the challenge ahead.
Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh have each scored a goal for the Men in Blue thus far in the tournament and are eager to increase their tally against Germany.
Germany, playing their first match in India, holds the seventh spot with four points from four games and is determined to improve their performance. Although they have only secured one win in the tournament so far, their attack is led by Raphael Hartkopf, Gonzalo Peillat, and Thies Prinz, each contributing two goals. Germany seeks to turn around their faltering campaign and earn crucial points in this tightly contested match.
The two teams last faced each other during a two-match Test series in New Delhi in October 2024, where Germany won the first game 2-0, but India rallied back in the second match with a thrilling 5-3 win. Nevertheless, Germany clinched the series with a shootout victory, adding extra intensity to this latest encounter in the FIH Pro League.
Addressing the upcoming matches, India captain Harmanpreet Singh remarked, “We look forward to our games against Germany. They are a quality opponent, and we understand the need to deliver our best performance on the field.”
“After the positive outcome against Spain, our confidence has surged, but we recognize that there’s still work ahead. A primary focus is to enhance our penalty corner conversion, as it’s vital to capitalize on these opportunities in tight contests. The team is inspired and ready to build on the momentum from our last match. We’ve learned from both our win and loss, and we are committed to showcasing our best performance. Playing at home holds a special significance, and we want to perform well for our supporters,” he concluded.
India will face Germany on Tuesday at 7:30 PM IST and again the next day at 5:15 PM IST. All matches of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 will be streamed live on JioHotstar and aired on Star Sports Select 2.
