India Vs China, FIH Women's Pro League Highlights: IND Suffer Crushing Defeat To CHN, Relegation Looms Large

Helloooo, we’re back with another live blog, and it’s hockey time. FIH Women’s Pro League 2024–25: Get India vs China updates right here.

The FIH Pro League, both men’s and women’s, will be broadcast live on Star Sports 3, Star Sports Select 2 and Sports 18 HD. It can also be live-streamed on JioHotstar.

The national anthems are underway here in Berlin, India up first, followed by China. Both teams are lined up, and the Indian players look focused but in good spirits. There’s intent in their eyes, they know what’s at stake. It’s a must-win game for India, and they’re standing tall, ready for the fight.

And we’re off! India get the ball rolling in this must-win showdown, fighting for survival against a sharp, in-form Chinese side sitting pretty near the top of the table. The women in blue take early control, moving from left to right, looking composed and hungry. It’s all to play for here in Berlin, high pressure, high stakes, and no room for error.

India showing real urgency early on. Baljeet Kaur made a brilliant run down the left, cutting through the Chinese high press with ease to enter the circle. She had a clear sight at goal but fired it wide, an opportunity India would’ve wanted to cash in on, especially in a must-win match like this.

Moments later, they earned back-to-back penalty corners but couldn’t convert either. Encouraging signs, but they’ll need to be sharper in front of goal.

China win a penalty corner, their first of the match, but they fail to make it count. A poor trap at the top of the circle ruins the routine, and the chance fizzles out. India breathe a sigh of relief, no damage done.

IND 0-0 CHN

A sharp attacking move down the flank as India surge forward, with Sharmila leading the charge. She makes a strong run into the circle but can’t find a teammate for the final touch.

Despite India creating better chances so far, China have been disciplined defensively, closing spaces quickly and ensuring nothing truly threatening develops. It’s been a tense, tactical start.

The Chinese Dragons are knocking hard on the Indian door, turning up the pressure with quick counterattack. A fierce tomahawk shot comes flying in from the Chinese forward, but Savita Punia stands tall in goal.

Brilliant awareness and sharp reflexes from the Indian skipper as she gets her stick in just in time to deflect the ball away. A vital save to keep India level and in the game.

IND 0-0 CHN

Quarter 1 comes to a close with that final penalty corner, and it’s been a lively start in Berlin. China edged the quarter in terms of attacking opportunities, creating more chances in the final third, but India held firm at the back.

Savita Punia’s sharp save was the highlight of a solid defensive effort. With both teams now settling into their rhythm, it looks like the next phase will see them push harder for a breakthrough.

Quarter 2 begins, and China waste no time piling on the pressure, earning another penalty corner right at the 15:30 mark. The Dragons are pushing hard for that opening goal.

China continue to pile on the pressure with one penalty corner after another, but India’s defence is holding firm. In the midst of a packed Indian circle, China earn yet another PC.

The Dragons are fighting hard, but the wall in blue refuses to crack.

China finally crack it.

CHEN Yang is the one to do it, she gets the all-important touch at 20:27 and the ball’s in the back of the net. After wave after wave of penalty corners, the Dragons finally make one stick.

A sharp deflection off the injector, and Savita had no chance. Brilliantly worked, and China are up 1–0. Tough moment for India, they’ve been solid at the back, but that one slipped through.

India are looking increasingly desperate for the equaliser now, throwing numbers forward with urgency. Navneet tries to thread a risky pass through the middle, but it doesn’t come off, possession lost again. Moments later, they launch a quick counterattack and win a long corner. The intent is there, but the execution still needs to click.

This one’s going to sting, China have doubled their lead with just under three minutes to go before halftime. ZHANG Ying steps up and delivers a beauty at 25:57, slotting it perfectly into the bottom left corner off yet another penalty corner.

Savita was left rooted, with no chance of stopping that rocket. It’s goal number two for the Dragons, and India are now staring at a mountain to climb.

China head into the break with a two-goal cushion, but it could’ve been worse for India if not for another sharp save from Savita, who denied a dangerous run late in the half. India have work to do now, they’ll need a strong, spirited comeback in the second half to turn this around.

We're back for the third quarter here in Berlin. China start with possession as the action resumes, and India switch directions, now moving from right to left on your screen.

Trailing by two goals, the Indian team has it all to do. They’ll be looking to shift the momentum quickly and claw their way back into this must-win contest. It’s comeback time, if ever there was one.

India squander another promising chance, and the frustration is beginning to show. They win a long corner soon after, but can’t capitalise. The third quarter has been largely uneventful, both teams playing it safe, building from the back, and losing the ball in midfield before any real threat develops.

Just a couple of timid circle entries so far, and it’s not looking good for India as the minutes tick away.

Another one for China, and things have gone from bad to worse for India. Goal number three for the Dragons, and it’s a beauty. Slick build-up play, sharp passing, and a calm finish to slot it past the Indian defence, who were caught napping yet again. Clinical from China, and India now find themselves in real trouble.

China extend their lead as we wrap up the third quarter, and it’s been all one-way traffic in Berlin. The Chinese side have been sharp, clinical, and absolutely dominant so far. India, on the other hand, have looked shaky at the back and have struggled to make their chances count.

They’ve been knocking on the Chinese door, but with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Heading into the final quarter, it’s a grim outlook for India unless something drastic changes.

India are pouring their hearts into this, fighting for every ball, pushing forward with all they've got. But no matter how hard they try, the goal just won’t come. It’s one of those nights where the effort’s there, but the result is stubbornly out of reach. But, we still have time.

Another circle entry for India, but once again, China deal with it calmly and clear the danger without breaking a sweat. The women in blue are pushing hard, piling the pressure on the Chinese defence, but that final touch continues to elude them. With just 10 minutes left on the clock, India need something special to salvage a result from this one.

Big moment in the match. Tong Chen is shown a yellow card, and India are awarded a penalty soon after. The umpire signals for a video referral to review the decision, tension rising on the turf. This could be the opening India have been desperately searching for.

Oh no, this is heartbreaking for India. After a reckless challenge inside the circle by Chen Tong, the umpire awards a direct penalty stroke, and rightly so. Chen is also shown a 10-minute yellow card for the foul, leaving China a player down. It's a golden chance for India to claw one back.

Deepika steps up, all eyes on her, but she smashes it into the post! A massive opportunity wasted, and it perfectly sums up India’s night so far, plenty of effort, but no reward.

It’s all over in Berlin, and it ends in heartbreak for India. In a must-win encounter, the women in blue fall flat, going down 0–3 to a dominant Chinese side. From the start, China looked sharper, more composed, and made their chances count, while India just couldn’t find a way through.

This result all but seals India’s relegation from the FIH Pro League, there may still be a mathematical chance, but realistically, the writing’s on the wall. A tough night for Indian hockey.

That’s a wrap. We’ll catch you all in the next live blog. Until then, bye-bye.