The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams have achieved the second position in the inaugural Hockey 5s rankings published by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The men’s team is in joint second place with Oman and Malaysia, with all three teams tied at 1400 points each.
Following their victory at the Asian Championship, the Indian men’s team finished in fifth place at the World Cup in Muscat from January 28-31. The tournament also saw Oman claiming the bronze medal in their home country in their debut World Cup appearance, while Malaysia showed significant improvement from their fourth-place finish at the Asian Championships.
The rankings are led by the Netherlands with 1750 points, following their success at the first-ever World Cup and their triumph at the European Championships. Poland and Egypt are tied for fifth place with 1350 points each, closely followed by Trinidad & Tobago and Kenya at 1200 points each in seventh place. Pakistan and Australia also feature in the top-10 rankings.
In the women’s category, the Netherlands also secured the top position with 1750 points after winning the gold at the World Cup and the European Championships. India, who won the silver medal at the World Cup after clinching the Asian Championship, is placed second with 1550 points. Poland, Uruguay, and South Africa are among the other nations who have performed impressively in the tournament.
The FIH highlighted that all continental championships have been given equal weightage, aiming to encourage participation from nations across all continents and thereby earn points in the Hockey 5s World Rankings.
This accomplishment by the Indian hockey teams underscores their growing prowess in the sport and sets the stage for a promising future in international competitions. With their consistent performances, they have positioned themselves as strong contenders in the highly competitive world of hockey.