The Indian men’s hockey team has jumped from seventh to fifth place in the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) standings.
This ascent comes after they won the bronze medal in the Olympics in Paris in 2024.
The team, who started the Olympics rated eighth, rose to the top after winning the bronze medal match against Spain.
They have now finished on the podium twice in as many Olympics.
The Indian team’s performance in the 2024 Olympics in Paris
The Indian team performed poorly in the FIH Pro League, finishing in ninth place, but they were quite good during the Olympics in Paris.
They only lost two games and won five, giving them 2848.67 points and a spot ahead of Australia in the standings.
Their great performance at the Olympics in Paris was a major factor in their ascent in the FIH rankings.
Global standings and the status of the Indian women’s hockey team
With 3168.01 points, the Netherlands—the gold medal winners at the Olympics in Paris—remain at the top of the FIH rankings.
With 3035.28 and 2973.31 points, respectively, Germany and England are in second and third place, following respectively.
Currently ranked fourth is Belgium, the gold medal winners from the Tokyo Olympics.
The Indian women’s hockey team, meanwhile, is rated ninth despite missing out on Olympic qualifying for Paris.
Hardik Singh considers India’s Olympic experience
Hardik Singh, a midfielder, was essential to India’s Olympic success.
Although earning back-to-back Olympic medals was an impressive feat, he admitted that winning gold is his ultimate objective.
Singh stated that he is determined to aim for this feat in the forthcoming 2026 World Cup.
India recovered from their semi-final loss to Germany by winning bronze against Spain, a tenacity Singh attributes to the lessons learnt from Germany’s own remarkable resurgence.
Singh recognizes the impact of former players and coaches
Singh acknowledged the efforts made by earlier generations of Indian hockey players, especially those who saw the team’s low points—such as their inability to make it to the 2008 Olympics.
He emphasized the comeback of goalie PR Sreejesh, who finished his career with a bronze medal in Paris 2024, following a lackluster showing at the London 2012 Olympics.
In addition, Singh complimented coach Craig Fulton for his encouraging demeanor and gave him credit for allowing the players to rest on their laurels.
