Indian Women's Hockey Team Faces FIH Pro League Relegation Battle: Survival Scenarios Analyzed

Saturday - 09/08/2025 06:03

Three teams, two matches, one relegation battle: here's how India can avoid relegation from FIH Pro League.

Indian Women's Hockey Team's Fight to Stay in FIH Pro League: A Survival Guide

The Indian women's hockey team faces a crucial juncture in the FIH Pro League, mirroring the challenges their male counterparts experienced. However, unlike the men's team, who avoided relegation due to Ireland's performance, the women's team, led by Salima Tete, is in a direct battle to avoid the drop.

With only two matches remaining, the question looms: can India escape relegation from the FIH Pro League? Let's examine the scenarios.

Current Standings Overview

Currently, India sits at the bottom of the table with a mere 10 points from 14 matches. This puts them in a tight spot with England, who hold 11 points, and Germany, who have 13 points, both also from 14 matches.

All three teams are desperate to avoid finishing last, as the ninth-placed team will be relegated to the FIH Nations Cup, missing out on the opportunity to compete against top-tier hockey teams in the next FIH Pro League season.

The final week promises intense competition, with England and Germany facing off in two direct relegation clashes, while India takes on China in their remaining matches. Meanwhile, the Dutch women's team have already secured their fifth title, a testament to their dominance.

India's Path to Survival

India's struggle to secure outright wins in their recent matches has significantly complicated their situation. Facing tough opponents like Australia, Argentina, and Belgium, they suffered five losses and managed only a 2-2 draw against Argentina, which ended in a shootout defeat.

The current predicament means that India's survival is no longer solely within their control.

The optimal scenario for India involves winning both their games against China, boosting their points tally to 16. They would then need to hope that neither England nor Germany surpasses this number. Securing one outright win and a draw would require either Germany or England to suffer one or two outright losses. Even a single loss for India would make avoiding relegation an uphill battle.

It's important to note that shootout wins provide a bonus point (totaling two points), which could aid India's quest for safety.

Essentially, India must avoid outright defeats in both matches. Securing outright wins is crucial, as the number of victories in a season is the primary tie-breaker if teams have equal points, followed by goal difference and goals scored. Currently, India has only two outright wins, while Germany and England each have three.

Tie-Breaking Procedures

In the event that teams are tied on points, goal difference, and goals scored, the aggregate results of matches played between the tied teams will be used to determine the final rankings.

If these criteria remain insufficient, the number of field goals scored will be considered, followed by the number of red, yellow, and green cards earned throughout the season, with a lower count being more favorable.

The Final Verdict

As previously stated, India's fate is no longer in their hands. Adding to the complexity, they are currently struggling with their form. In these critical must-win matches, they will face China, the Olympic silver medalists and current fourth-placed team in the Pro League with 22 points, including six wins.

While India has defeated China twice at the Asian Champions Trophy, those victories were against a significantly rotated team, without their regular head coach Alyson Annan.

In their recent games against Belgium in Berlin, India struggled to score, and their defense conceded seven goals. They are showing competitiveness but failing to secure wins. Head coach Harendra Singh acknowledges the need for improvement across all areas to avoid relegation. Although not impossible, the odds appear stacked against them.