India’s men’s and women’s teams kicked off their respective FIH Hockey Pro League campaigns with mixed results at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The Indian women’s side snuck a victory in the final minute of their match against England while the men went down to Spain. In the other match of the day Spain’s women kept their cool to beat Germany.

(Women’s) Germany 1 – 2 Spain

Both Germany and Spain were looking for their first wins of this year’s competition and it was the Spanish who coped better in the scorching heat, clinching a 2-1 win. All the goals came from first-time international scorers.

Spain looked dangerous as they dominated a goalless first half, Patricia Alvarez showing impressive form and giving the Germans a hard time throughout.

Estel Petchame then opened the scoring for Spain in the 35th minute with a fortuitous misdirected cross which found the back of the net. Space opened up towards the end of the third quarter and both goalkeepers made some excellent saves to keep matters in the balance. It was then Sophia Schwabe who equalised for Germany in the 44th minute, scrambling well off her own rebound from open play.

Spain’s higher energy gave them a distinct advantage in the closing quarter and their winning goal came in the 59th minute, Berta Agulló running in hard behind the German defence for a diving reverse-stick deflection.

The player of the match was awarded to Berta Agulló who said: “In this Pro League every point counts, so we keep believing in our play and in our game.”

(Women’s) India 3 – 2 England

Hosts India opened their tournament with an enthralling 3-2 win over England. The searing temperature had dropped slightly for the evening games, and it showed, with high-speed play from both teams.

The first half was evenly contested, although India looked full of pace and flair on the ball. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke gave India an early lead from a recycled penalty corner, but Darcy Bourne equalised with a tap-in at the back post in the 12th minute. Deepika then celebrated her 50th cap with a 25th-minute drag flick goal to give India a 2-1 lead at half time.

Play ebbed and flowed through the second half before England stepped up the pressure in the final period. Savita was kept busy in the Indian goal and Fiona Crackles’ 58th-minute equaliser looked to have sent the match to a shootout. Navneet Kuar had other ideas though, and her blistering 59th-minute shot from the top of the circle secured the last-gasp win, much to the delight of the dancing Indian fans.

India’s Sunelita Toppo was named the player of the match.

(Men’s) India 1 – 3 Spain

Spain came from behind to beat hosts India 3-1, avenging their bronze medal loss at last year’s Paris Olympics.

Neither team was able to assert complete dominance throughout the match. Spain appeared to have the ascendancy in the first half, but they were stunned by Sukhjeet Singh’s 25th-minute reverse strike that fired the home side ahead. The Indians then enjoyed a series of penalty corners and half-chances before Borja Lacalle equalised for Spain with a 28th-minute tap-in.

Spain earned a flurry of penalty corners in the third quarter but executed them poorly. They eventually got their reward though, when Ignacio Cobos scored his first international goal from a recycled penalty corner in the 38th minute. An exceptional reflex save from Luis Calzado kept Spain’s nose ahead going into the final period.

The Red Sticks worked hard to control the tempo of the fourth quarter while India displayed their fantastic attacking ability. The match was in the balance until the 56th minute when Bruno Avila struck the killer blow with a low drag flick, giving Spain a vital two-goal cushion. India pulled their goalkeeper off to chase a result, but they couldn’t find a way back into the match.

Spain’s Gerard Clapes was named the player of the match and said: “It’s important for the points. We have played well, good sensations, good feelings, so good.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED), Jinzhuang Tan (CHN) (4 goals)

Men – Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) (8 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 15 February 2025

Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)

Women

Result: Match 19 (W)

Germany 1 - 2 Spain

Player of the match: Berta Agulló (ESP)

Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL), Tamara Leonard (AUS), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY-video)

Result: Match 20 (W)

India 3 - 2 England

Player of the match: Sunelita Toppo (IND)

Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Wanri Venter (RSA), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN-video)

Men

Result: Match 19 (M)

India 1 - 3 Spain

Player of the match: Gerard Clapes (ESP)

Umpires: Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Bevan Nichol (NZL-video)