In a thrilling men’s hockey series held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, India faced Germany over two high-stakes matches on October 23rd and 24th.
This series, a symbolic return to Delhi for international hockey after nearly a decade, was eagerly anticipated by fans. Germany, the reigning World Champions and Olympic silver medalists, arrived with a strong defensive approach that ultimately secured them a 2-0 win in the first match. India, led by coach Craig Fulton, worked hard to breach Germany’s defense but struggled with missed opportunities in the circle and could not capitalize on penalty corners.
The series held special significance for Coach Fulton, whose own international career began in Delhi nearly 30 years ago. Captain Harmanpreet Singh also saw the series as a meaningful return, having trained at the stadium early in his career. While India aimed to avenge their previous loss to Germany in the Olympic semifinals, the Germans proved a formidable opponent, leveraging structured defense and penalty conversions. The matches were broadcast on Sony Sports and DD Sports, and tickets were available via a free digital system, drawing a passionate local crowd eager to support the home team.