26: India beat defending champions Netherlands in 3

The Indian hockey team produced a resilient performance to defeat the Netherlands 3-2 in its last match of the FIH Pro League 2025-26 Rotterdam leg on Sunday.

Jugraj Singh (18’), Abhishek (27’) and Rajinder Singh (56’) were the goal-scorers for India, eighth in the men’s hockey rankings, while Pepijn van der Heijden (19’) and Koen Bijen (59’) found the back of the net for world No. 2 and Olympic champions Netherlands.

Stand-in captain Hardik Singh was named Player of the Match as India stayed eighth in the FIH Pro League standings with 10 points from 12 matches.

India, who had lost their previous match against defending FIH Hockey Pro League champions Netherlands by a 3-2 margin, will face arch-rivals Pakistan in their next game at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, London, England, on Tuesday.

Playing at the Hockey Club Rotterdam, the hosts started the match strongly in the first quarter, while India had a slightly shaky start. The opening quarter, however, ended goalless.

The Indian men’s hockey team increased the intensity in the second quarter and immediately won their first penalty corner to allow Jugraj Singh to fire a powerful drag-flick to the left of Dutch goalkeeper Derk Meijer and make it 1-0.

The Netherlands responded instantly, equalising through a penalty corner goal by Pepijn van der Heijden.

The hosts continued to press, but the Indian defence held firm. In the 27th minute, Jarmanpreet Singh set up a brilliant pass for Abhishek, who smashed a backhand shot into the net to restore India’s lead at 2-1 before half-time.

In the second half, the Netherlands won a penalty corner in the 41st minute, but Amit Rohidas comfortably deflected van der Heijden’s shot.

Another penalty corner opportunity for the hosts was wasted due to a mistake by the stopper, allowing a composed Indian side to keep their 2-1 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter saw the Netherlands pushing hard for an equaliser, but India remained composed.

In the 56th minute, a quick counter-attack by Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh created a dangerous two-on-one situation.

While Dutch player Joppe Wolbert made an extraordinary save, he was handed a yellow card for a foul during the play. India then capitalised on the resulting penalty corner, with Rajinder Singh drag-flicking straight into the goal to make it 3-1.

Down to 10 men, the Netherlands won three consecutive penalty corners in the 58th minute, but the Indian defence blocked them all.

The hosts finally pulled a goal back in the 59th minute through a clever penalty corner variation completed by Koen Bijen to make it 3-2. The score stayed the same till the final whistle.

India’s next FIH Pro League match will be against Pakistan in London on Tuesday.

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