India Squanders Lead To Lose 1-2 To Netherlands In FIH Pro League Opener
Last Updated:
India's men's hockey team lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in the FIH Pro League. Harmanpreet Singh scored first, but Thijs van Dam equalized and secured the Dutch win with a late goal.
The Indian men's hockey team squandered a one-goal lead and lost 1-2 to Olympic champions Netherlands in the first match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League on Saturday.
The Netherlands clinched the winning goal two minutes before the final whistle through Van Dam Thijs (58th minute), who had also scored the equalizer in the 25th minute.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh had converted the first penalty corner of the match in the 19th minute to give India the lead.
India started the match strongly, dominating possession with crisp passing despite the Netherlands' high press.
In the first eight minutes, there were no real threats on goal from either side. However, India soon got an opportunity when they won the ball in the Dutch circle.
Dilpreet Singh's reverse hit was blocked at close range by Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser.
On the other end, Netherlands threatened late in the first quarter as Thierry Brinkman approached from the right flank, but the Indian defense stood firm to avert the danger.
advetisement
The Netherlands came out with intent in the second quarter, with Steijn van Heijningen testing Suraj Karkera in the 17th minute, only for the Indian goalkeeper to block the effort.
India responded purposefully and were rewarded with a penalty corner after Dilpreet was impeded by a stick challenge inside the circle. Captain Harmanpreet stepped up and fired a powerful, low shot to give India the lead.
As the second quarter progressed, India exhibited a tight defensive formation, but the home team managed to break through in the 25th minute with Thijs van Dam scoring the equalizer, leaving the scores at 1-1 before half-time.
In the second half, India's strong passing game dominated, but the team struggled with a lack of clear scoring opportunities and shots on goal.
To break the deadlock, India attempted to bypass the midfield with long aerial balls, but the Dutch defense was prepared.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands grew increasingly assertive, posing more challenges for the Indian backline, though the scores remained 1-1 after a tepid third quarter.
In the final quarter, the Netherlands enjoyed the lion's share of possession, and the hosts capitalized. Thijs van Dam struck again in the 58th minute, making the most of a well-placed pass into the circle. With a deft first touch, he followed up with a fierce strike, ensuring victory for the Netherlands.
India will face the Netherlands again on Monday in the second match of the European leg.
Earlier this year, India played the home leg of the ongoing Pro League in Bhubaneswar, where they accumulated 15 points with five wins in eight games.
(With PTI Inputs)
Location :
Netherlands
First Published:
June 08, 2025, 09:10 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘They looked like soulmates': Photojournalist shares Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma's post-RCB win moment, viral post wins hearts
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma have proved their mettle in their respective careers. Married since 2017, the power couple, fondly known as Virushka, have won hearts not just with their achievements, but also with the support they show each other during pivotal moments. The Internet recently lit up with emotion when, following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) historic IPL victory, Sharma rushed to hug Kohli, just as his eyes searched for her. Arun Sharma, a photojournalist, recently shared heartwarming moments from the night when RCB won against Punjab Kings (PBKS), dedicating a post to Kohli and Sharma. In a lengthy post, Arun shared that the couple were like 'two soulmates' looking for each other. 'It was during the RCB celebration of a final IPL match… the stadium was alive with cheers, lights flashing, people rejoicing. But amidst the chaos, my eyes were drawn to just two faces,' he wrote. He further shared that Kohli and Sharma were playing like kids at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 'It felt like I was watching two little children playing together in the middle of that huge wanted to greet everyone, pose for pictures, be part of the moment — but never drift away from each other's sight. If one of them moved even slightly away, the other would stop everything just to look for them,' Arun said. In the photo shared by Arun, the couple looked adorable as they laughed and hugged each other after the match. See the post here: A post shared by Arun Sharma (@arunsharmaht) The post quickly gained traction, accumulating an array of reactions from fans who hailed the couple for their bond. 'There seems to be such an immense beauty just observing them, yet you get the feeling of not disturbing their moment even as an a world of their own,' a user wrote. 'U r fortunate to witness it through ur eyes and capture it through ur camera, so closely,' another fan commented.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Virat Kohli is the only active cricketer from the 2011 World Cup winning squad as Piyush Chawla retires
It's been 14 years since India last lifted the ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium and a golden generation of Indian cricketers has officially bid adieu to the game. With leg-spinner Piyush Chawla announcing his retirement from all forms of the game, Virat Kohli is now the only remaining active cricketer from that legendary 15-member squad. Kohli was at the time just 22 years and was one of the youngest players in the team. A young top order batter, he played a crucial role India's World Cup winning campaign under the leadership of MS Dhoni . He now stands as the lone bridge between that iconic night in Mumbai and the present era of Indian cricket. The retirement of Piyush Chawla on social media brought the spotlight back on the 2011 squad. It was a team filled with some of the greatest names in Indian cricket history . MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. Sachin Tendulkar bid farewell to ODIs in 2012 and played his final Test in 2013. Gautam Gambhir played his last match in 2014 and retired in 2018. Yuvraj Singh battled cancer and retired in 2019 after brief comebacks. Virender Sehwag retired in 2015 after fading form. Zaheer Khan retired in 2015 following injury setbacks. Harbhajan Singh last played for India in 2016, retiring in 2021. Suresh Raina retired in 2020, minutes after Dhoni's announcement. Ashish Nehra retired in 2017, ending his career with a farewell match. Munaf Patel stepped away in 2018 after disappearing from the scene post-2012. Yusuf Pathan made his last appearance in 2012 and retired later. Sreesanth, after serving a ban, returned briefly before retiring in 2022. Piyush Chawla, the final to exit, confirmed his retirement in 2025. Kohli is now 36 years old and is one of the greatest cricketers to have played for India, India across formats, winning multiple ICC awards, and rewriting batting records. He too, plays only the ODI format after having retired from Test cricket last month and from T20I last year. Live Events Yet, his presence today serves as a reminder of the passage of time since one of Indian cricket's most treasured triumphs.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is Priya Saroj? Cricketer Rinku Singh's fiancée and one of India's youngest MPs; Know about her family, education, and political journey
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh is now officially engaged to Member of Parliament Priya Saroj . The engagement ceremony took place on 8 June at The Centrum, a luxury hotel in Lucknow. It was a grand but private event that brought together people from both the cricket and political worlds. Rinku, famous for his performances with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, arrived at the venue with Priya. The couple wore matching white and pink outfits and looked very happy. The hotel was beautifully decorated with flowers and warm lights. Over 300 guests attended the event, including former cricketers Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla, UP Ranji captain Aryan Juyal, and big names in politics like Akhilesh Yadav, Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Yadav, and Iqra Hasan. Congress leader Rajeev Shukla and senior politician Ram Gopal Yadav were also present, showing how important this occasion was. Rinku and Priya exchanged rings on a grand stage. Guests were served a traditional vegetarian feast that mixed Awadhi dishes with international flavours. Security was very tight, with barcoded entry passes and police officers to make sure everything stayed private. Who is Priya Saroj? Priya Saroj is only 25 years old and is already one of the youngest Members of Parliament in India. She represents the Machhlishahr area in Uttar Pradesh. Live Events She is the daughter of experienced politician Tufani Saroj . Priya entered politics in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and won by more than 35,000 votes against BJP's BP Saroj. Before joining politics, she worked as a lawyer. She studied law at Amity University in Noida and later practised in the Supreme Court of India. Even though she comes from a political family, she didn't originally plan to enter public life. Her relationship with Rinku started as a friendship and grew stronger over the past year. 'Rinku and Priya have known each other for over a year. They liked each other but waited for their families' approval. Both families have now agreed,' said Tufani Saroj, according to PTI. Now, with the engagement done, the couple is set to begin a new journey together, one that blends cricket, politics, and shared dreams. Inputs from TOI
