It was a bright year for Indian Hockey with both men’s and women’s teams experiencing success in various competitions on the international stage.
From a second consecutive Olympic medal to the resurgence of the Hockey India League to bidding farewell to some of the sports’ greatest pillars, Sportstar takes you through major moments from hockey in 2024 :
January
The year began on a sour note as the Indian women’s hockey team failed to secure a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics, after losing to Japanin the 3rd place play-off at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
In the men’s competition, Pakistan failed to qualify for the Games after a 2-3 loss to New Zealand in the third-place match.
Indian women’s hockey team defender and penalty corner specialist Deep Grace Ekka announced her international retirement, ending an illustrious career during which she represented India in two Olympic Games.
India finished as runner-up at the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey 5s Women’s World Cup after a 7-2 loss to the Netherlands in the final. In the men’s competition, India finished fifth after beating Egypt 6-4.
February
The Indian men’s and women’s hockey team started their home leg of the FIH Pro League 2023-24 season in Bhubaneswar.
The men’s team scored 20 goals in eight games, winning three outright and two in shootouts, with 11 of the goals coming off penalty corners. Two of its losses came against Australia and one against the Netherlands.
In the women’s competition, India ended its losing streak and managed three wins in eight games, including one in a shootout.
ALSO READ | FIH Pro League 2023-24, home leg review: Beginning and end of different journeys for Indian hockey
Following the string of underwhelming results, the Indian women’s hockey team’s head coach Janneke Schopman submitted her resignation to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey.
Hockey India’s long-serving CEO Elena Norman also resigned, ending not just a 13-year-old association with the federation but also marking the end of an era in the administration of the sport.
March
Hockey Haryana defeated host Hockey Maharashtra 1-0 (3-0 SO) in a nail-biting final to clinch the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship.
Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Chile skipper Camila Caram were appointed co-chairs of the new FIH Athletes Committee, which serves as a consultative body and makes recommendations to the FIH Executive Board, FIH Committees, Advisory Panels and other bodies.
Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named Player of the Year 2023among men and women respectively at the 6th Annual Hockey India Awards.
April
In its build-up to the summer games in Paris, the Indian men’s hockey team suffered a 0-5 clean sweep in the Test series against Australia in Perth, prolonging its decade-long dry spell against the Aussies.
The inaugural season of the National Women’s Hockey League 2024–2025 kicked off on April 30 with competition taking place between the teams that finished in the top eight at the Senior Women’s National Championships.
May
Salima Tete was appointed as the Indian women’s hockey team captain after Hockey India announced the 24-member squad that participated in the Belgium and England legs of the FIH Pro League 2023-24.
Japan clinched its first ever Sultan Azlan Shah Cup after beating Pakistan 4-1 in the penalty shootout.
June
The 2023-24 season of the FIH Pro League concluded with Australia taking the men’s crown with 34 points from its 16 games and also secured qualification for the Men’s FIH World Cup 2026. India finished seventh, its worst finish in the league, and ended its campaign with 24 points from 16 matches, managing to register only five wins and six draws through the campaign.
The Netherlands took top honours in the women’s competition, picking up its fourth title in five seasons while the Indian women managed only eight points from 16 matches, finishing eighth out of the nine teams.
July
Indian men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh announced that he will retire from international hockey after taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The team began its Olympics campaign with two wins and a draw to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
August
The Indian men’s hockey team secured consecutive medals at the Olympic Games for the first time since 1972 after beating Spain 2-1in the bronze medal match.
ALSO READ | India in Hockey, Paris 2024 Olympics Review: History repeats itself as Fulton’s philosophy is vindicated
India’s fourth bronze and 13th Olympic medal was a fitting farewell for PR Sreejesh, who closed his glorious two-decade-long international career, serving India with distinction, and deserved every bit of the dream swansong.
ALSO READ | The P.R. Sreejesh interview: Miracle man of Kizhakkambalam
File photo: Indian men’s hockey team celebrates after winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
File photo: Indian men’s hockey team celebrates after winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
The Netherlands took the gold medals in both men’s and women’s competitions after beating Germany and China respectively in the finals. Argentina secured the bronze in the women’s section after beating Belgium on penalties.
Three Pakistan hockey players and a physiotherapist were banned for life for attempting to seek asylum in a European country after slipping away without the knowledge of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
September
Pakistan men’s team head coach Roelant Oltmans ended his association with the side after he refused to join the side in China for its Asian Champions Trophy campaign, citing the lack of a long-term contract. Tahir Zaman, a member of the Pakistan team that won the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics, the World Cup and the Champions Trophy in 1994, was appointed as Oltmans replacement.
Australian men’s hockey player Tom Craig was suspended for 12 months by the sport’s national governing body for attempting to purchase cocaine at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Indian men’s hockey team successfully defended its Asian Champions Trophy title, clinching a hard-fought 1-0 victory over host China in the final.
Indian men’s hockey team poses with the trophy after winning the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 final against China.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Indian men’s hockey team poses with the trophy after winning the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 final against China.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Defending champion Indian Railways beat Indian Oil Corporation 5-3 in the final of the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold All-India hockey tournament in Chennai.
October
After calling it a day from international hockey, PR Sreejesh decided to officially end his playing career and withdraw from the Hockey India League Player Auction.
The eight men’s and four women’s teams for the Hockey India League were officially announced, making it the first professional league to have both men and women playing concurrently. The league will begin on December 28 with the women’s final to be held on January 26 in Ranchi while the men’s final will be on February 1 in Rourkela.
The auction was held from October 13-15 where over 1,000 men’s and women’s players registered. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was the top pick in the men’s pool, going for Rs 78 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club. Indian defender Udita was the most expensive player at the women’s auction, being bought by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 32 lakh.
ALSO READ | Hockey India League: A long-awaited return for men and a timely debut for women
Sreejesh had a successful start to his coaching career after winning the bronze medal at the Sultan of Johar with the Indian junior men’s hockey team.
PR Sreejesh pulled out of the Hockey India League auction to focus on coaching and mentorship roles instead.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT/The Hindu
PR Sreejesh pulled out of the Hockey India League auction to focus on coaching and mentorship roles instead.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT/The Hindu
Veteran Rani Rampal pulled the curtains on a 16-year-long career that saw her become the undisputed queen of Indian women’s hockey.
November
Sreejesh was named the ‘Men’s Goalkeeper Of The Year’ while skipper Harmanpreet won the ‘Men’s Player Of The Year’ award for the 2023-24 season by the International Hockey Federation.
Incumbent president Tayyab Ikram was re-elected for another term at the helm of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress.
Odisha hammered two-time champion Haryana 5-1 in the final of the Hockey India-14th Senior National championship for its maiden gold medal.
The Odisha team after winning the 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
VEDHAN M / The Hindu
The Odisha team after winning the 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
VEDHAN M / The Hindu
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The Indian women’s hockey team successfully defended its Women’s Asian Champions Trophy title after beating China 1-0 in the final.
ALSO READ | Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey review: Acing ACT test bodes well for greater challenges ahead
December
The Indian junior men’s hockey team won a record fifth Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 title after beating Pakistan 5-3 in the final.
India has now won the title in three consecutive editions—2015, 2023, and 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
India has now won the title in three consecutive editions—2015, 2023, and 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
ALSO READ | Sreejesh continues to take baby steps as India Colts’ coach with Junior Asia Cup title
The Indian junior women’s team followed suit and successfully defended its Junior Asia Cup title after beating China 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the final.
Indian women’s team defeated China in the final of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
Indian women’s team defeated China in the final of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
