Historic Victory for Indian Hockey Team Against Germany
Indian Hockey Team Achieves Landmark Win
In a remarkable achievement, the Indian hockey team secured their first outright win in the 2025-26 Men's FIH Pro Hockey League by defeating the reigning world champions, Germany, with a score of 3-1. This match took place at the Hazelaarweg Stadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and marked a significant milestone for Indian hockey. Former captain Manpreet Singh made history by becoming the most capped player for India, surpassing the legendary Dilip Tirkey's record with his 413th international appearance. Manpreet, who debuted in 2011, has been a pivotal figure in Indian hockey, leading the team to its first Olympic medal in 41 years by clinching bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Games. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Hockey India announced a cash prize of ₹10 lakh for him.
Top Capped Players in Indian Men's Hockey
| Player | Matches |
| Manpreet Singh | 413 |
| Dilip Tirkey | 412 |
| Dhanraj Pillay | 339 |
| PR Sreejesh | 336 |
| Baljit Singh Dhillon | 327 |
Match Highlights: India vs. Germany
During the match, India established a commanding 3-0 lead by the third quarter, with goals scored by Mandeep Singh in the 7th minute, Shilanand Lakra in the 13th minute, and Nilakanta Sharma in the 35th minute. Germany managed to score a consolation goal through Raphael Hartkopf in the 45th minute. Despite this victory, India remains in 9th place in the league standings, just ahead of Pakistan, who is currently at the bottom with no points. Out of their 10 matches played, India has lost six outright and one in penalty shootouts, alongside one victory in shootouts. The team is set to face Germany again on June 18, followed by matches against the Netherlands on June 21, and then traveling to London to compete against Pakistan on June 23 and 26, as well as England on June 25 and 28 in their final four matches of the tournament.