Indian Hockey's Rollercoaster Year: Highlights and Challenges

The year 2023 was a tumultuous one for Indian hockey, featuring significant highs and lows. The men's team celebrated an Asia Cup victory, while the women's team faced relegation from the Pro League and a disappointing finish in the Asia Cup. The junior men's team, however, brought joy by winning a World Cup medal after a long drought. This article delves into the challenges and achievements that defined Indian hockey over the past year, highlighting the transition within the teams and the controversies that arose.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 06:10 IST

A Year of Mixed Fortunes for Indian Hockey

The past year proved challenging for Indian hockey, marked by the men's team's Asia Cup victory and the junior squad's bronze at the World Cup as notable achievements. Meanwhile, the women's team faced setbacks, being relegated from the Pro League and finishing as runners-up in the Asia Cup, where only a gold medal would have secured a spot in the upcoming World Cup.

The year kicked off with the Hockey India League making a comeback after a seven-year hiatus. The revamped tournament saw the Rarh Bengal Tigers clinching the men's title among eight teams, while the Odisha Warriors triumphed in the women's four-team competition. However, the league encountered several obstacles, including player withdrawals due to scheduling conflicts, teams failing to pay player salaries, and other franchises pulling out over financial viability concerns.

Internationally, the FIH Pro League commenced with mixed results for the men's team. After a disappointing series of seven consecutive losses during the European leg, they managed to secure a final win, finishing second-last and avoiding relegation. The team struggled to replicate the efficiency that had previously earned them two Olympic bronze medals, appearing disorganized defensively and out of sync offensively. This year marked a transition phase with the introduction of new players.

Entering the Asia Cup following the Pro League disappointment, the men's team faced the pressure of needing to win the tournament to qualify for the World Cup. They rose to the occasion, showcasing their dominance in the continent with an unbeaten run to claim the title.

Conversely, the women's team faced a challenging year. Following their success at the Tokyo Olympics, where a core group had played together for years, they have struggled to maintain their standing in global hockey. With several key players retiring or falling out of favor, the team managed only two wins in 16 Pro League matches, leading to their relegation. They reached the Asia Cup final but suffered a 4-1 defeat to China, necessitating participation in a qualifying tournament for the World Cup. The year concluded controversially, with head coach Harendra Singh reportedly being asked to resign by the federation following player complaints about his coaching methods.

Despite the challenges, the year ended on a positive note as the junior men's team secured a World Cup medal after a nine-year gap. After their hopes for gold were dashed by Germany in the semifinals, they staged a remarkable comeback against Argentina in the third-place match, scoring four goals in the final quarter to end their medal drought.