Indian women's hockey team relegated from FIH Pro League after defeat against China
The Indian women's hockey team was relegated on Saturday (June 28, 2025) from the FIH Pro League after losing to China 0-3 in its penultimate match, a result which placed it at the bottom of the points table.
India's seventh consecutive defeat in their disastrous European leg of the FIH Pro League meant that they will finish at the lowest rung of the standings even though one match is left to be played on Sunday.
India are now at the bottom of the nine-team standings with 10 points from 15 games and will play again against China on Sunday in their last match of the 2024-25 FIH Pro League.
With 0-1 loss to England in the other match of the day, Germany are one rung above India with 13 points. Even if India beat China, they are certain to finish at the bottom as they can only reach up to 12 points.
Hence, India will be relegated from the FIH Pro League to the second tier FIH Nations Cup in the 2025-26 season.
England are placed at seventh with 14 points from 15 games.
In their penultimate match, China scored through Chen Yang (21st minute), Zhang Ying (26th) and Anhul Yu (45th) against India.
India made a bright start and made some good circle penetrations in the first quarter.
Baljeet Kaur had the first real chance of the match but her shot from the top of the circle in the third minute went wide.
A minute later, India secured two-back-to-back first penalty corners but Deepika failed on both the occasions.
China got their act together soon and earned their first penalty corner a minute later but India defended well.
Veteran India goalkeeper Savita made some fine saves to deny the Chinese, including one in the 13th minute to keep out Guoting Hao's reverse hit.
Seconds from the first quarter, China secured their second penalty corner but failed to stop the push.
A minute into the second quarter, China earned two consecutive penalty corners but failed to make use of the chances.
China came out all guns blazing in the second quarter and dominated the proceedings through penalty corners, and in the 21st minute, Chen Yang scored from a set piece.
China continued to put pressure on the Indian defence and got their fifth penalty corner in the 26th minute and Zhang Ying made no mistake as they took a 2-0 lead at half-time.
The Indians created a few chances but, as has been the case so far, they lacked the finishing touch.
They dominated the third quarter with persistent attacks but failed to break the resolute Chinese defence.
China took advantage of India's lacklustre attitude in the backline, tripling their lead in the 45th minute through a field goal by Anhul Yu against the run of play.
The Indians continued to apply pressure on the Chinese defence and secured a penalty stroke in the 55th minute but Deepika missed the golden chance.
The missed penalty stroke summed up India's day as China came out winners.
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Economic Times
41 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Does your kid want to be the next Kohli, Ronaldo? Financial planning for kid's sports career needs a different strategy than for education, here's a guide
iStock Financially planning for your child's sports career is vastly different from planning for other needs of your child, be it higher education or more. Hence, this should not be approached in a conventional way. Traditional Indian wisdom and lore have never quite celebrated the virtues of sport as a career, allowing it to languish in the shadow of academic pursuits. The new India, however, is starting to wonder why. Even as a young brigade of sporting icons—Neeraj Chopra (athletics), Manu Bhaker (shooting), Lakshya Sen (badminton), D. Gukesh (chess)—is making a place for itself in the societal psyche, the stodgy Indian parent has found other reasons to warm up to this career option for kids. For one, parents' improved earning and saving ability means that they can provide a financial cushion to the child wanting to explore it as a career path without relying on it as a source of livelihood. Even if the child is unable to scale sporting stardom, they can fund his education to gain lateral entry into a vast array of aligned career options, be it sports management, science and analytics, psychology or coaching, which can also be prestigious and financially rewarding. Financial wherewithal also means they can secure the best facilities and training to ensure the child can compete with the top players in the world. Ajit Menon did just that by sending his son to Madrid, Spain, for football training in 2022. 'Once I realised his seriousness and passion for what he wanted to do, I wanted to pull out all stops to make it possible for him,' says Menon, who is the CEO of PGIM India Mutual Fund. His son, Aymaan, joined the Aquinas American School in Madrid when he was just 15 years old because it had a school program run by one of the top professional football clubs, Getafe CF. A big pull for parents is also the improved financial earnings in terms of prize money and corporate sponsorships for sports other than cricket. Add to it the government nudge, such as the Khelo India initiative, which offers improved infrastructure, training and opportunities, and there is a better chance for kids to compete at the global scale and turn it into a financially viable profession. AYMAANMENON, 18 yrsMumbai/Madrid (Spain) Parents: Ajit & Alinaa, both 54 yrs CAREER GOALReturn to India and play in Indian Super League (football). CAREER TIMELINE 2014Started playing at 8 years. 2014-21 Local football leagues. 2021 Attended 10-day Advanced Real Madrid football camp in Spain. 2022 Joined school in Madrid tied up with Getafe CF (football academy). 2025 Started undergrad at Universidad Europea + professional football club. EXPENSE TIMELINE 2022-2024Rs.30 lakh a year (schooling + Getafe club in Madrid). 2025 onwards Rs.30-35 lakh a year (graduation + football clubs in Madrid). FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2015 Rs.75 lakh Revised estimate in 2025 Rs.1.25 crore Current corpus: 75% of the goal funded. Invested in: Currently mutual funds. Despite this optimistic scenario and emergence of the new sporting ecosystem, there are several financial challenges and risks that plague this career option. 'Pursuing a sports career in India involves high risk with no guaranteed returns. Performance risk is significant; despite talent, few reach elite levels. Injuries can abruptly end careers, and the financial burden of coaching, travel and gear is steep and front-loaded,' says Naveen Gogia, Founder & Managing Director, Creed Capital. Ignorance about training expenses, lack of financial preparedness, and need for a back-up plan are among the primary hurdles that parents of sporting aspirants typically deal with. In the cover story this week, we shall try to explain how to overcome these and other shortcomings that are endemic to this career option. Financial challenges When a child wants to pursue a sports career, the immediate concern for parents is financing the journey so that he can avail of the best training. While the initial costs at the recreational level of play are low and manageable, the sudden jump in expenses when he transitions to professional training comes as a Kolkata-based tennis aspirant, Krishnav Jhunjhunwala, 15, first picked up a tennis racket at 6-7 years, the cost was barely Rs.5,000-6,000 a month, including his coaching fee and gear expenses. After initiating professional training at 10-11 years, the expenses shot up nearly 10 times to Rs.50,000-60,000 a month. 'The coaching fee itself has gone up from Rs.3,000 to Rs.15,000, while the beginner rackets that cost Rs.4,000-6,000 have been upgraded and are much more expensive,' says Ashish, Krishnav's father. Krishnav, meanwhile, is making progress; he has won the All India Tennis Association's (AITA) tournament in Sonepat and reached the semi-finals in of the sport, most kids start playing at around 6-7 years, at which point the costs are nominal at Rs.5,000-6,000 a month because it only comprises club or academy fee (Rs.2,000-5,000 a month) and basic equipment or clothes. Within 3-4 years, the child's talent or dedication are clearly visible, and if the parents introduce professional coaching, the prices surge, as do the cost heads. Professional stage Besides professional coaching fee, parents need to shell out on physical (gym training) and mental fitness (psychologist), advanced equipment and gear, diet and nutrition, as well as match fees for tournaments, which require frequent travel by the kid and parent.'At professional level for, say, badminton, it can cost anywhere between Rs.9-15 lakh per annum because a domestic tournament will cost Rs.50,000-60,000 a week and even as a beginner you will play 5-6 tournaments a year,' says Supriya Devgun, Founder of Badminton Gurukul, an academy co-founded with badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, that aims to bring affordable training to young aspirants.'Before reaching the elite bracket, players typically incur substantial travel and accommodation expenses throughout the year to participate in international level chess tournaments which are necessary to gain ratings,' says Sandeep Singhal, Managing Partner, WestBridge Capital, and Cofounder, WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, the brainchild of chess whiz Viswanathan Anand and Viswan, mom to 18-year-old Omkar Vinod—Kerala's No.1 squash player and currently ranked 18 in India—has tried to bring down the travel costs to Rs.15,000-20,000 per tournament. 'We either try to stay with relatives or he travels alone to cut down the expenses,' says the Bengaluru-based startup owner, who took upon herself the task of navigating his sporting career after her husband's demise in Warrier, meanwhile, has estimated a cost of Rs.25 lakh a year from this year onwards as his 16-year-old son, Jaitirth, the South Zone No.1 golf player, readies to shift gears. 'He is playing the junior national circuit and is aiming to turn pro in four years' time. Last year, he played 10 tournaments and this number is going to double now,' says the Bengaluru-based father who was an NRI for 14 years and returned to India only in 2024. JAITIRTHWARRIER, 16 yrs Bengaluru Parents: Ranjit & Aparna, 53 & 50 yrs CAREER GOALBecome a professional golfer. CAREER TIMELINE 2015Started playing at 6 years in Lagos, Nigeria. Jan 2024 Started competitive golf. 2024 Ranked No. 1 in South Zone 2025 Playing junior national circuit. Aims to turn pro in four years. EXPENSE TIMELINE Current expenseRs.13 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, tournament fees, fitness, mental coaching) 2025 onwards (estimated) Rs.25 lakh a year FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2015Rs.4-5 crore Current corpus Rs.6 crore (for education & golf for 3-5 years) Invested in: Real estate, stocks, mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance plans, gold. How much does training cost at different stages? Figures are indicative and may vary as per sport and talent. In elite stage, costs are cut if the child gets reward money, sponsors or endorsements. If child is also studying as a back-up plan, it may require an additional Rs.10-20 lakh at 17-18 professional coaching fee can range from Rs.10,000-30,000 a month, depending on the child's talent and the academy or coach's experience, equipment cost varies according to the sport. 'Golf or shooting would be 3-4 times more expensive because the equipment and training costs are higher, with a single golf class costing around Rs.2,000,' says Devgun. For 3-4 times a week, it could add up to Rs.30,000 a month only in coaching fee for professional coaching in cricket can also be Rs.2,000-3,000 an hour and the total cost could go up to Rs.40,000-50,000 a month. 'Cricket, like golf, is a rich man's sport now and needs money if one is serious about turning professional,' says Farhad Daruwala, Founder of Rising Star Cricket Academy in Mumbai, that trains under-privileged kids.'Critically, inflation of sports equipment tends to be much higher than general inflation and imported items are more expensive. This means a 10% general inflation could translate to 15-20% for sports gear,' says Atul Shinghal, Founder & CEO, Scripbox. So a tennis racket can easily come for Rs.20,000 today, while the cost of shooting equipment or golf clubs can run into lakhs. 'Swimming costumes at competitive level can cost Rs.35,000-40,000 and can be worn only 8-9 times,' says Jhunjhunwala, whose daughter had earlier reached national school level championships in while money is needed at this stage, there are few or virtually no sponsors till the time the kid reaches the elite stage and gains recognition or wins tournaments. 'Nobody wants to invest in a non-achiever; only known talents fit the bill. While CSR funds, scholarships and sponsorships are offered to the top talent, it is actually needed by the upcoming talent. If costs are to be brought down, the answer is to integrate sports with education,' suggests government does provide funds to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for various initiatives and schemes, and some non-banking financial corporations like Avanse Financial Services offer loans as well, but bank loans are not easy to come by. 'The parents of India's Saina Nehwal, former world number one badminton player, famously took loans for her early badminton career, as individual sports are largely self-funded by parents until elite success,' agrees Shinghal. Elite stage As the child progresses and begins to win tournaments and get ranked at the domestic or international level, the costs surge even further. 'At the elite level, training remains the most significant area of investment, including personalised coaching, access to top-tier trainers, game preparation support, and advanced analytical tools. Travel is another major expense given the international nature of toplevel chess tournaments,' says WestBridge's international tournaments easily costing Rs.2-3 lakh per tour, including air fare and accommodation, the overall cost of training can jump to Rs.20-30 lakh a year. This involves advanced, personalised and intensified coaching, more rigorous physical and mental fitness and physio, and a rise in the number of tournaments to participate good news is that at this stage, some income and financial support start to come in in the form of prize money from wins, sponsorships, CSR funds (corporate social responsibility funds), scholarships, or even public sector jobs. This brings down the costs and eases the financial burden. This is the reason Viswan is planning to start looking for a sponsor from next year as Vinod's all-India ranking has shot up from 235 in 2023 to 18 now, and the reason Jhunjhunwala is looking for colleges that offer scholarships for tennis training for Krishnav. Time for a back-up plan Despite Devgun's assertion that a back-up plan takes away from the focus of reaching top levels, most parents prefer to reach for the safety net of education while allowing their kids to pursue sports. 'Without early financial planning and a strong Plan B, the journey can become financially and emotionally draining,' says Sumit Duseja, Co-founder and CEO, Truemind Capital and Sebi-registered investment adviser: 'There is a very low chance to be a successful sportsperson in India. Hence, a Plan B should always be in place as a fall-back option that supports the child in case success is not achieved as desired.''One needs to have a back-up plan because there is no guarantee in sports. I have given Vinod a time limit of five years to prove himself. He, too, isn't yet sure whether he wants to be a professional squash player or go in an allied field like sports science,' says Viswan. 'Krishnav is excelling in studies, scoring 97.8% in his ICSE class 10 exams last year. As long as he says his studies will not be affected, I'll do everything he wants to do in tennis. Besides, what will he do after 10 years given the short career span? If he doesn't reach the top level, he will opt for engineering in data science or AI,' says Jhunjhunwala. KRISHNAV JHUNJHUNWALA,15 yrs,Kolkata Parents: Ashish & Nidhi, 48 & 46 yrs CAREER GOALProfessional tennis player/engineering. CAREER TIMELINE 2016-17Started playing at 6-7 years. 2020 Professional training and coaching. 2024 Won AITA tournament in Sonepat. Reached AITA semifinals in Kolkata. 2025 West Bengal U-16 ranked No. 5, U-18 ranked No. 7. EXPENSE TIMELINE Initial expenseRs.50,000-60,000 a year Current expense Rs.3-4 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, travel, tournament fees, fitness) FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2015Rs.15-20 lakh Current corpus Rs.20-25 lakh Invested in: Kisan Vikas Patra, with varying maturities for liquidity; stocks and mutual funds. NAVEEN GOGIAFOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, CREED CAPITAL Note:'Pursuing a sports career in India involves high risk, with no guaranteed returns. The financial burden is also steep and front-loaded.' Education vs sports:Why financial strategy differs It's also the reason Menon is spending Rs.30-35 lakh a year, combining Aymaan's football training with his graduation in sports science from one of the top European universities in Spain, Universidad Europea. Warrier too has kept `6 crore corpus for Jaitirth for the next 3-5 years, either for education or golf. He also insists on a four-year degree course, and possibly post-graduation as well. 'If he doesn't reach the required heights, he can get into sports psychology or sports management. The four years will also give him the time to prove himself in golf,' he says.'From 18-21, the child either turns pro or pursues college sports abroad, and international education may require Rs.25-50 lakh. By 22-30, the focus shifts to career transition. Successful athletes need long-term planning and passive income strategies; others may use a pre-built Plan B fund to pivot to alternate careers,' says Gogia. Financial planning Financial planning for a sports career is different from that for education goals for various reasons (see Education vs sports). For one, large sums of money can be required at an early age and staggered across a longer period. The higher risk, uncertainty and shorter career spans also call for a unique multi-pronged approach.'Higher education can be a preplanned activity, with the knowledge of approximate cost structure and when the funds will be required. Sports is a skill-based career and one is not aware of the level of competence the child will achieve. These are unknowns for which you have to plan a higher budget, and the plan needs to evolve with skill development,' says Dinesh Rohira, Founder & CEO, requires phased, proactive planning that balances long-term growth, short-term liquidity, and flexibility,' says Gogia. So you need to plan for short-, medium- and longterm expenses in varying instruments. 'It also needs to be slightly open-ended and a secondary budget should also be planned for triggers and sudden changes,' says Rohira. OMKAR VINOD18 yrs Bengaluru Parent: Sandhya Viswan, 49 yrs CAREER GOALProfessional squash player or aligned field in sports. CAREER TIMELINE 2016Started at 9 years, played tournaments. 2018 Ranked No. 1 in Kerala. 2023 Started professional training and being ranked in U-19 category. 2025 Has been Kerala No. 1 since 2018 & all-India No. 18 in U-19. EXPENSE TIMELINE Initial expenseRs.50,000 a year Current expense Rs.4-5 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, tournament fees, fitness) FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2012Rs.25 lakh Current corpus Rs.50 lakh (includes other brother's Rs.25 lakh who doesn't need it) Invested in: Traditional insurance plans. 'In the first phase (5-10 years), moderate but consistent investment in basic coaching and equipment is needed; second phase (11-16 years) calls for high, rapidly increasing costs for advanced coaching, tournaments, nutrition and physio; the third phase of elite training (17-21 years) sees peak expenditure for national/international tournaments, professional academies and sports psychologists; and finally, after 21 years, there is potential income generation or investment for an alternative education/career path,' says a first step, start SIPs in equity funds (large, flexi, or multi cap) at the earliest in order to build a large corpus for the long term, which can be used for higher expenses or Plan B needs. You can also invest in the PPF for tax-free payouts and safety.'For this core corpus, I invested nearly 50% in real estate, and the remaining in multiple assets, including stocks, mutual funds, insurance and gold,' says Warrier. 'It's extremely important to hire a financial planner and have a written plan for this goal. I invested in multiple assets, but am currently relying primarily on mutual funds,' says Menon. For medium-term requirements (3-7 year horizon), start SIPs in balanced advantage funds or fixed deposits of varying maturities that can be broken without incurring penalties as and when the need arises. 'I invested in a large number of Post Office Kisan Vikas Patra with small sums and varying maturities for both my children's sports expenses in the second phase,' says Jhunjhunwala. Next, keep an operational buffer for short-term (1-3 year horizon) expenses like equipment and gear purchase or domestic tournaments, investing in liquid, arbitrage or ultra short-duration funds, or even sweep-in fixed deposits. SUPRIYA DEVGUNFOUNDER & MD, BADMINTON GURUKUL Note:'While CSR funds, scholarships and sponsorships are offered to the top talent, it's actually needed by the upcoming talent.' Given the high risk of injury, it is also crucial to have Rs.50 lakh-1 crore medical and personal accident insurance.'If earnings begin, consider setting up a trust or HUF for tax-efficient structuring. In the career phase (after 21 years), preserve wealth with a diversified mix of equity, debt, and REITs, and create passive income through annuities or systematic withdrawals. Throughout, avoid over-locking your capital; in sports, flexibility is just as important as performance,' says Gogia.'It's also important to review the plan on a regular basis, in six months or one year, depending on the career progress of the child,' advises Rohira. Long-term investment For core corpusStart saving for the child's goal, be it sport or education, at birth. This will help build a large corpus for expensive, professional training if he chooses a sport. Or, if the sports career doesn't work out, it can be used for education in aligned fields later. Where to invest Large-cap, multi-cap or flexi-cap equity mutual funds; PPF. Medium-term investment For professional trainingIn the second phase of his training between 11 and 16 years, expenses will suddenly spiral as he moves from casual to professional training and large sums will be needed for coaching, equipment and tours for tournaments. Where to invest Balanced advantage and equity savings funds, or medium-term fixed deposits for staggered withdrawals. Short-term investment For operational expenses You will need some funds throughout his sporting journey for equipment and gear, fitness, travel and coaching fees. Where to invest Liquid or ultra short-duration funds, or sweep-in fixed deposits. No trending terms available.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
England's nemesis Spain bid to add Euro title to world crown
Spain are aiming for their first ever women's European title as the reigning world champions head to Euro 2025 with a squad packed with stars from arguably the best club team in the world. HT Image Spain showed they are the team to beat in Europe with their dramatic win over defending European champions England in June which propelled them into the Nations League semi-finals. It was England also that Spain beat in 2023 to be crowned world champions. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitina Bonmati is the biggest name amongst a host of Barcelona players in Montse Tome's squad heading to Switzerland for the Euros which kicks off on Tuesday. However, there is a question mark hanging over Bonmati as she is recovering from viral meningitis, only being discharged from hospital on Sunday and due to meet up with her teammates later this week. "Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled," said Tome. "She is a very important player for us. We'll wait for her as long as we can." La Roja's large Barca cohort will be keen to bounce back from a shock defeat to Arsenal in the recent Champions League final by holding the European and world titles at the same time. Spain will be without their all-time top scorer Jenni Hermoso who was not selected by Tome, one of many of those who delivered the World Cup not heading to the Euros. Veteran Hermoso's absence raised eyebrows as the 35-year-old plays and scores regularly for Tigres in Mexico. Tomes has insisted her absence has nothing to do with the furore that surrounded her being forcibly kissed after the World Cup final by former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales. Rubiales was fined 10,800 euros for sexual assault in February. Hermoso, who has scored 57 times for her country, played in all six qualifiers for the Euros, netting three times, but hasn't featured in the last four Spain squads. She appeared to take a pop at Tome after being left out of the Euros squad by saying the players could "probably become champions of Europe on their own". The level of talent is such that Hermoso might have struck on a half-truth in her moment of anger: such is the quality available to Tomes only 11 World Cup winners are in the Euros squad. Claudia Pina is another star in the making after a series of impressive super-sub appearances for Barcelona and her country, including both goals in Spain's Nations League win over England. England coach Sarina Wiegman has had a difficult build-up to the Euros, with goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby retiring from international football, while key defender Millie Bright then pulled out of the tournament to prioritise her mental and physical health. The trio started every game when England secured their first major silverware at the last Euros three years ago, and are huge losses for the Lionesses. England have also been far from their best in recent matches and are in the tournament's toughest group alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales. But Wiegman has reached the final, and won two, of her last four major tournaments and England are, alongside Germany, Spain's main rivals for victory in Switzerland. "My experience before tournaments is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament," said Wiegman after announcing her squad for the tournament. "It doesn't feel like a crisis at all." Eight-time champions Germany head into their first tournament without Alexandra Popp since the prolific Wolfsburg striker made her debut back in 2010. Missing someone with such a wealth of top-level experience is a blow for Germany, who haven't won a major honour since 2013. On the upside Christian Wuck's team are unbeaten in 2025. Wuck will rely heavily on Bayern Munich striker Lea Schueller who has scored 52 times in 75 appearances for Germany, including five goals in six Nations league Group A1 matches. td/pi This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PSG rout Messi's Inter Miami to march into Club World Cup quarterfinals
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