India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams face Belgium in a crucial FIH Pro League 2024-25 double-header on June 21 and 22. The men aim to end a six-game losing streak, while the women seek redemption against world No. 3 Belgium following hard-fought games against Australia and Argentina.
As the European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 progresses, both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams face a crucial test against hosts Belgium in a double-header on June 21 and 22. For the Indian men’s team, the tournament has unfolded far from expectations, while the women’s squad aims to build on recent learnings and turn their fortunes around.
The Indian men’s hockey team began their Pro League campaign with ambitions of securing a top-three finish and strengthening their chances for a 2026 World Cup berth. However, a string of six consecutive defeats has seen the team tumble down to the eighth position in the standings, making the upcoming fixtures critical for a morale-boosting finish.
India now prepares to face Belgium, a side that has historically tested their limits. Belgium, currently third in the standings behind the Netherlands and Australia, are coming off a commanding 6-3 victory over Spain after a narrow 1-2 defeat in their previous encounter with the same opponent.
Despite the losses, Indian vice-captain Hardik Singh believes the team has not been underperforming. “The results have not gone as planned and it’s not that we have played badly,” he said. “It hurts more when you play well but can’t convert that into the desired result. This is something we will introspect on, but for now, we are focused on the last two matches here.”
Hardik acknowledged the intensity of India’s modern rivalry with Belgium. “Belgium and India have always shared a healthy rivalry in recent times and both teams bring out the best in each other. Our focus will be on finishing well, ensuring tighter defence, and creating chances to score,” he added.
With just two matches left, the Indian men’s team is keen on salvaging pride and proving they can compete with the best, especially after several close contests that failed to go their way.
The Indian women’s team also faces a formidable opponent in world No.3 Belgium. After a challenging tour featuring back-to-back matches against Australia and Argentina, the women in blue are eager to deliver a stronger performance.
Captain Salima Tete shared her thoughts ahead of the clash: “While we had two close matches against Australia and took Argentina to a penalty shootout in our last match, it was our 1-4 loss against Argentina in the previous match that gave us the most insight into where we need to strengthen our game.”
She emphasized how the team has been working on tactical improvements and is motivated by past encounters with Belgium. “Last year, during our previous encounter against the Belgium team, we didn’t give them any easy wins. We’re now taking our learnings from those matches and our recent encounters against Australia and Argentina to go all out against them again and hopefully win.”
Belgium will have the home advantage in Antwerp, but the Indian women’s team is determined to rise to the occasion, driven by recent experiences and a renewed focus on converting opportunities.
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The double-header against Belgium offers both Indian teams an opportunity to assess their current progress and finish the European leg with momentum. For the men’s team, it’s about salvaging a forgettable campaign, while the women’s side aims to gather confidence and tactical rhythm ahead of future fixtures.
The outcome of these matches will not only influence India’s Pro League standing but will also serve as an important benchmark for both squads as they continue building toward long-term international goals, including the World Cup and the Olympics.
As the Indian teams take to the field in Antwerp, fans will be hoping for spirited performances and perhaps a few surprises from both sides that have often thrived when their backs are against the wall.
