India Vs China Highlights, FIH Women's Pro League 2024-25: Relegated IND End Campaign With 2–3 Defeat To CHN

Hello and welcome to our live blog for India vs China in the FIH Women's Pro League 2024–25. Stay tuned for live updates from this high-stakes revenge clash.

The FIH Pro League 2024–25, for both men and women, will be broadcast live on Star Sports 3, Star Sports Select 2, and Sports18 HD. Fans can also catch the action via live streaming on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.

India’s women’s hockey team are set to face China once again on Sunday in their final match of the FIH Pro League 2024–25, but the stakes have already slipped away. A 0–3 defeat to the same opponents in Berlin marked their seventh straight loss and nearly confirmed their relegation to the FIH Nations Cup for the next season.

Despite a promising start and multiple penalty corners, India failed to convert their chances, while China capitalised with goals in each of the first three quarters. With just 10 points from 15 games, even a win in their last outing won’t lift India off the bottom of the table, but it’s now a shot at pride, if not survival.

India's relegation is now confirmed. With Germany edging past England earlier in the day, Salima Tete and her team are guaranteed to finish bottom of the standings, regardless of their final match.

That means India will drop to the FIH Nations Cup next season. A tough blow after a difficult campaign.

The players are out on the pitch and the buzz is real! We're moments away from kickoff. National anthems underway, first up, China’s, followed by India’s. All set for action.

And we’re off!

China take early control, knocking it around confidently. India, dressed in white, are moving from right to left on your screen. It’s go time in Berlin. IND 0–0 CHN

China have come out with intent today. They’re moving the ball around confidently, forcing India to stay compact and wait. So far, no circle entries for either side, but the momentum clearly belongs to the team in red. India yet to find their rhythm.

What a twist! China were dictating the tempo, but it’s India who strike first. Neha Goyal does brilliantly to hold off pressure and slip a clever pass through to Sunelita Toppo. The youngster controls it, drifts wide to find space, and then bang! Fires a shot past the keeper, crashes into the far post and in.

India lead 1–0.

China win their second penalty corner of the match and look threatening, but the Indian first rusher charges out bravely and blocks the drag flick with conviction. The danger isn’t over yet as China recycle the ball inside the circle, probing for an opening. But India stay compact and alert, shutting the door on any follow-up.

They're holding their ground, and against China, they have no choice but to.

A first quarter comes to a close with India leading, thanks to Sunelita Toppo’s early strike. They've soaked up pressure well and defended with intent. China have had their moments, but the Indian defence has held firm.

Q2 underway. Can India hold off the Chinese charge and maybe sneak in another goal? The Dragons are pushing, but India look up for the fight. Let’s see how this one unfolds.

Big let-off for India! China earn back-to-back penalty corners and look threatening, but they fail to make them count. The first drag flick crashes into India’s first rusher, leading to a second chance, but this time, India’s defence stands tall and clears the danger. Still 1-0 to India.

A really worrying moment here. Manisha Chauhan, trying to clear under pressure inside the circle, ends up hitting Deng Qiuchan flush in the face with the ball. It looked accidental but brutal, Deng drops to the turf instantly, clearly in a lot of pain. The physios rush in, and after a few anxious minutes, she’s stretchered off the field. It seems to have struck her near the eye. Fingers crossed she’s okay.

Initially, the umpire points to the spot and awards China a penalty stroke for dangerous play. But India go for a referral, and it works. The stroke is overturned and changed to a penalty corner. India keep their referral. A bit of drama, and now all eyes shift back to the penalty corner.

And China make no mistake this time, they’re back level.

Zhang Ying steps up for the penalty corner and keeps it simple but effective. A clean drag flick low to the left of the goalkeeper, and it sneaks through. No fancy stuff, just precise execution.

The equaliser has arrived and it's 1-1 now in Berlin. India will be disappointed after all that drama, but this match is very much alive.

A big moment in the second quarter as Chengcheng Liu picks up a green card for China. That’s a two-minute suspension, and India now have a chance to press forward with a one-player advantage.

Can they capitalise and sneak back in front before half-time?

Zhang Ying is on fire! Another penalty corner, another clinical finish, this time she fires it into the top-left corner of the net. Savita Punia had no chance.

That’s her second of the night, and with it, China flip the script in the second quarter. India now trail 1-2, and momentum has firmly swung in favour of the Dragons.

India struck early through a sharp finish from youngster Sunelita Toppo, but China roared back in the second quarter. After wasting a few chances, Zhang Ying converted two back-to-back penalty corners to put the Olympic silver medallists in front. India now trail 1-2 at the break, they’ll need a strong response in the second half.

Second half begins and India come out with purpose, stringing together a patient spell of possession early on. They hold the ball for nearly a minute, trying to find a way through China’s tight defence, but there’s no real threat at the end of it. India trail 1–2 and need something special to turn this around.

India build up nicely, swarm into the Chinese D with a clear numerical edge, but just when it looked like they might level things up, it all falls apart. A poor first touch, a fumble, and the ball slips away. That was a real chance, and India know it.

India are temporarily down to ten. Lalremsiami gets shown the green card for a mistimed challenge, and she'll have to sit out for the next two minutes. A small window of opportunity now for China to press harder.

India pull level, and what a clever routine that was. Despite a sluggish injection on the penalty corner, the execution was spot on. A smart variation caught China off guard, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal was perfectly placed in front of goal to get the crucial deflection.

The ball zipped past the goalkeeper, and just like that, India are back in it.

India are turning up the heat in this third quarter. They've earned another penalty corner, their second in quick succession, and they’ve looked much sharper since the restart. The last one was well executed but brilliantly blocked by a Chinese defender right in front of goal.

Captain Salima Tete charged forward with intent, weaving through the Chinese defence and forcing a stick challenge inside the circle to earn India a penalty corner.

Deepika stepped up for the drag flick, but China’s first rusher was up to the task, bravely blocking the shot with her knee. That’s got to sting, but it keeps India from taking the lead.

End of the third quarter and it’s all level at 2–2 in Berlin! It’s been a tight contest, with momentum swinging both ways. India fought back well after trailing, while China have looked sharp on the counter.

With just 15 minutes left, all outcomes are still on the table, will India snatch a winner, will China strike late, or are we headed for a deadlock? Let’s find out in the final quarter.

Q4 kicks off with both sides going all in for the winner. China start strong and earn themselves an early penalty corner, but India hold firm with some gritty defending.

The PC is deflected, and India survive the scare, they'll restart with a free hit. Tense moments already as both teams push hard for the lead in this final quarter.

India back on the ball now as we enter the final stretch. Lalremsiami cops a blow to the leg while trying to cut off a Chinese attack, she walks off the field gingerly, looking in some discomfort. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious for the forward. India regather quickly and continue to push. This one’s still hanging in the balance.

China attempt a clever variation off the penalty corner, something similar to the Indian routine that brought them their second goal, but it doesn’t come off. The deflection’s mistimed, and no one gets a stick on it. India breathe a sigh of relief. Still 2–2, the tension builds.

China strike again! Another penalty corner, another blow for India. This time, it's Xu Wenyu who gets the final touch, deflecting the drag flick neatly into the net. Just over seven minutes remain, and China edge ahead 3–2.

IND 2-3 CHN

This is slipping away from India, can they dig deep and find another equaliser before time runs out?

That's all from this match. Thanks for joining us. We'll catch you again with another live blog, until then, take care and bye bye.