Australia vs India
Lausanne, Switzerland: Australia men came back from two goals down to extend their unbeaten run in the FIH Hockey Pro League, drawing 2-2 with India and then taking the bonus point in the ensuing shootout. In the other match of the day in Hobart, China’s women secured a 3-1 win over hosts Australia.
(Women’s) Australia 1 – 3 China
China dominated the opening three quarters to secure a strong 3-1 win over hosts Australia. They completely owned the match stats with 28 circle penetrations to eight, and 10 penalty corners to four.
China were creative on the ball in the opening quarter, and their aggressive press forced the Hockeyroos into some high-risk exits. They took the lead in the 11th minute, Li Hong cracking a quick free hit 50m up the centre of the pitch to Wang Lihang in space, who ran it into the circle unchallenged and tomahawked into the roof of the net. Zeng Xueling doubled their lead in the 23rd, slamming her shot into the corner after a good build-up, and Zhang Ying added a PC to make it 3-0 by half time. It could have been worse for Australia with China striking the post once, and goalkeeper Alyssa Smith having a great debut under the helmet.
China ramped up the pressure in a goalless third quarter and goalkeeper Zoe Newman had to pick up exactly where Smith left off. The Chinese forced the Australians into numerous errors out of defence and enjoyed regular circle entries and penalty corners. Australia showed plenty of fight to dominate long periods of the final quarter, which will encourage a team that fielded four debutants. They found a goal in the 48th minute, Hannah Cullum-Sanders working hard behind the Chinese defence to collect a long pass and finish with a reverse strike. They continued to attack the circle to the final hooter and earned a flurry of penalty corners, but they couldn’t add to their score.
Li Hong was named player of the match for China and said: “Very happy to win this game, and we also need to prepare for the next game. We want to win more games… I think this pitch for me is very good and I’m feeling very well, so I want the next two games we play very well.”
(Men’s) Australia 2 – 2 India (SO: 5 – 4)
Australia dropped their first point of the competition as they came back sensationally from two goals down in the final quarter to draw 2-2 with India. They then held their nerve to claim the bonus point for winning the shootout.
India looked like a different team from a day earlier as they stepped up to shade the opening quarter. They created better chances and went ahead from a penalty corner in the 15th minute, Amit Rohidas carrying the ball wide of the runners and striking hard into the left corner. The teams then wrestled for control throughout the second quarter and India carried their slender 1-0 lead to the break.
The Tasmanian fans were treated to exciting running hockey in the third quarter, with India still creating better quality circle entries. They doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Jugraj Singh nailed his drag flick. The unbeaten Kookaburras found something extra in a dazzling fourth quarter, surging forward time after time and earning 13 penalty corners. Joel Rintala equalised with a brace of drag flicks in the 47th and 56th minutes, and India found themselves under siege as the clock ticked down. A mammoth defensive effort from goalkeeper Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar and his willing first-wave runners somehow kept the ball out of the net, and the match went to a shootout where Australia prevailed.
India’s Jugraj Singh received the player of the match award in a losing cause and said: “Today was a tough match. We lost our first match against Spain, and we have come back well in this match, and we’ll make sure we prepare well for the coming matches.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (8 goals)
Men – Tomas Domene (ARG) (12 goals)
FIH Hockey Pro League – 22 February 2026
Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart (AUS)
Women
Result: Match 33 (W)
Australia 1 – 3 China
Player of the match: Li Hong (CHN)
Umpires: Rebecca Edwards (ENG), Lani Nichol (NZL), Sophie Bockelmann (GER-video)
Men
Result: Match 33 (M)
Australia 2 – 2 India (SO: 5 – 4)
Player of the match: Jugraj Singh (IND)
Umpires: Ben Grant (NZL), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), David Tomlinson (NZL-video)
-FIH
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