The 2016–17 Men’s Hockey World League Final was a very important event for Indian hockey fans. It was held from December 1 to 10, 2017, at the famous Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This tournament brought together eight of the best hockey teams in the world. For India, it was not just about playing hockey—it was about playing with pride in front of their home crowd.
Thousands of fans came to the stadium, waving flags and cheering loudly. The atmosphere was electric, and the Indian team had the full support of the nation behind them.
Tournament Details
- Dates: December 1 to December 10, 2017
- Place: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Teams: 8 top teams divided into two pools
- Format: Each team played 3 pool matches. All teams then moved to the quarterfinals, followed by semifinals and medal matches.
India’s Matches – One by One
Match 1: India 1–1 Australia (December 1)
India started their journey with a match against Australia, the world champions. Under new coach Sjoerd Marijne, India played with a new style—quick passing and team play instead of too much dribbling.
In the 20th minute, Mandeep Singh scored a smart goal after a great pass from SV Sunil. The crowd went wild! But Australia fought back and scored an equalizer. The match ended 1–1. India played very well, but missed a few chances to win.
Match 2: India 2–3 England (December 2)
This was a very exciting match. England took a 2–0 lead early in the game due to India’s defensive mistakes. But India did not give up. In the last quarter, Rupinder Pal Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored quickly to make it 2–2.
Just when it looked like India could win or draw, England scored again in the 57th minute. India lost 2–3. It was a heartbreaking loss, but the team showed great fighting spirit.
Match 3: India 0–2 Germany
India’s last group match was against a strong German team. India could not find their rhythm in this match. Germany played very well, both in attack and defense. India lost 0–2, which meant they finished last in their group. But the good news was that all teams moved to the quarterfinals, so India still had a chance.
Knockout Stage – India Fights Back!
Quarterfinal: India 3–3 Belgium (India won 3–2 in shootout, December 6)
This was one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament. India took a 2–0 lead, but Belgium came back strongly and made it 2–2. Then, Rupinder Pal Singh scored to make it 3–2. Belgium equalized again, making it 3–3.
The match went to a penalty shootout. It was very tense. In the end, Harmanpreet Singh scored the winning goal, and goalkeeper Akash Chikte made a big save. India won the shootout 3–2 and entered the semifinals. The crowd was overjoyed!
Semifinal: India 0–1 Argentina
India faced Argentina, the Olympic gold medalists. It was a tight match with strong defense from both sides. Argentina scored one goal, and India could not score back. India lost the match 0–1. It was a tough defeat, but India still had one more chance—to fight for the bronze medal.
Bronze Medal Match: India 2–1 Germany (December 10)
India faced Germany again, but this time with a medal on the line. Germany had only 11 fit players, including two goalkeepers. Still, they gave a good fight.
India’s SV Sunil scored the first goal after a saved shot from Akashdeep. Germany equalized in the 3rd quarter. But in the 54th minute, Harmanpreet Singh scored a goal to give India the lead again.
India held on to win the match 2–1 and claimed the bronze medal! The crowd celebrated with joy, and the players were proud of their performance.
Final Thoughts
India’s journey in the 2016–17 Hockey World League Final was full of emotions—joy, tension, and pride. After a difficult start in the group stage, the team showed great courage in the knockout matches. The victory over Belgium in the shootout and the bronze medal win against Germany showed that India can perform at the highest level.
This tournament also showed how strong Indian fans are. The loud cheers, waving flags, and support from the stands made a big difference. And the Kalinga Stadium proved to be a perfect place for international hockey.
India’s performance gave hope and excitement to hockey lovers all over the country. It was a reminder that with teamwork, belief, and support, anything is possible!
