India Concludes FIH Hockey Pro League with Narrow Defeat to China

The Indian women's hockey team wrapped up their FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 campaign with a narrow 2-3 defeat to China in Berlin on Sunday. Despite India's spirited performance, it wasn't enough to surpass China, who triumphed with significant contributions from Ying Zhang and Xu Wenyu.

Concluding the season, the Netherlands emerged champions, with Argentina and Belgium securing second and third places, respectively. China ended fourth, while India finished last, resulting in their relegation. To re-enter the prestigious tournament, India will compete in the FIH Nations Cup.

India made a promising start with Sunelita Toppo's early goal, yet China leveled the score through a controversial penalty stroke. While India found an equaliser through Rujuta Pisal, China's Xu Wenyu's decisive goal solidified their victory. India's inconsistency in defending penalty corners remains a concern as the team looks ahead to future international challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)