It was a memorable evening for Manpreet Singh in Rotterdam, not only setting a new Indian record as he earned his 413th cap for his country but also helping his side to their first victory of the FIH Pro League season, a 3-1 win over Germany.
In the other match of the evening, Spain’s women claimed a shootout win over Ireland after their match finished locked on 1-1.
Over in London, Argentina’s men fought back to beat Australia, while there was a first win of the season for the Australian women, who got the better of Germany.
(Women’s) Spain 1 – 1 Ireland (SO: 3-0)
The Spanish women returned for their first Pro League match since February and managed to sneak an extra bonus point in the shootout after drawing 1-1 with Ireland.
Spain produced some early pressure and took the lead when the ball flashed across the front of goal off the inside post and Teresa Lima pulled it back for Candela Mejias to flick it in from a narrow angle.
The Spanish nearly gifted Ireland an equaliser just a few minutes later when a poor clearance across their own circle was intercepted by Jessica McMaster. However, she failed to make clean contact with her shot, and it was comfortably saved. Ireland created another opportunity in the final minute of the opening quarter, and this time made it count, with Hannah McLoughlin firing a penalty-corner strike into the bottom-right corner to level the scores. The second quarter remained goalless, taking the teams to the half-time break locked on 1-1.
Both sides tightened up defensively in the third quarter, leaving the goalkeepers largely untested and the teams headed into the final period with the scores still level. An early penalty corner went unconverted by Ireland, while Spain also had several PC opportunities of their own. While it was a much busier quarter in both circles, neither side was able to break the deadlock, taking the match into a shootout.
Spain’s Berta Agullo was awarded the Player of the Match award and said: “We missed playing together as a team, so we are very happy to be here again. This is our first step to keep working to do our best in all the Pro League.”
(Men’s) Australia 1 – 2 Argentina
Argentina fought back from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at the death against Australia in a hotly contested match.
There was very little to separate the sides in a first half full of needle and some heavy collisions. There were half-chances aplenty and a couple of good opportunities at both ends before the Kookaburras grabbed the lead in the 29th minute, Ky Willott pouncing on loose ball after the Argentinian defence stopped playing in anticipation of a free hit.
The physical battle continued in the third quarter, with near misses apiece. Jed Snowden got off his line rapidly to smother an early Argentinian shot from open play, and Matias Andreotti just got his stick in the way to deny Willott at the back post as the ball floated across the goalmouth at shoulder height. Tomas Domene equalised for Los Leones in the 40th minute with a low drag flick to set up a tense finish.
Australia enjoyed a long period in the ascendancy at the start of the fourth quarter, but they came away empty-handed and the contest resumed. Argentina’s aggressive run down the right flank drew a bad tackle in the 57th minute, and Domene fired the resulting drag flick home for a 2-1 lead. Australia immediately sacrificed their goalkeeper to chase a result, but they lived dangerously without finding an equaliser.
The player of the match was awarded to Argentina’s Tomas Domene who said: “We’re really happy because our first game was not what we expected. So today we won the game because we worked hard, and this is how we have to play the games. We are happy for the victory.”
(Men’s) India 3 – 1 Germany
India pulled off their first victory of the FIH Hockey Pro League season by beating Germany 3-1 in Rotterdam.
The Indians made a flying start, exerting all the early pressure. Their breakthrough came when the ball was nicked off Tom Grambusch’s stick in the heart of the circle and worked to Mandeep Singh, who spun sharply before slotting home the opening goal. India doubled their advantage just six minutes later. Harmanpreet Singh fired a powerful ball into the circle that bounced up off a German defender’s stick, for Shilanand Lakra to pounce and hammer home a second.
Germany struggled to create any meaningful opportunities until just over five minutes before half-time, when they won the first penalty corner of the match. However, that effort – and another while India were temporarily reduced to 10 men – was well defended, allowing India to take a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.
The Indians extended their advantage five minutes into the third quarter after another costly defensive error from Germany. Nilakanta Sharma capitalised, making a superb run into the circle before beating the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. With just 20 seconds remaining in the quarter, Germany finally broke through when Tom Grambusch drove the ball into the circle and Raphael Hartkopf was perfectly positioned to guide a backhand deflection into the net to narrow the gap.
Germany pulled their goalkeeper with three minutes remaining in a bid to mount a late comeback and almost found another goal when Hartkopf got on the end of a chance, only to send his effort over the crossbar. They earned one final penalty corner in the closing stages, but India’s defence – outstanding throughout the match – stood firm once again to seal a deserved victory.
India’s Hardik Singh received the player of the match award and said: “I think the team played really, really well. All the 18 were really in nice form. We knew what we were doing and our structure was really good and we knew that we had to finish stronger and that’s what we did… Manpreet is a legend. He’s just an inspiration for all of us. Hats off to him.”
(Women’s) Germany 0 – 2 Australia
Australia survived long periods of sustained pressure to post their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Germany. With the Aussies languishing at the bottom of the standings, these were important points in the context of the relegation fight.
Germany enjoyed the early advantage and Jocelyn Bartram had to be at her very best to keep them out on at least three occasions. The pick of her saves came as time ran down on the first quarter, getting her angles right to smother a deflection and then diving quickly to her right to nudge the ball into the post with the tip of her glove.
The Hockeyroos settled down nicely in the second quarter and opened the scoring in the 20th minute, Stephanie Kershaw converting a penalty corner deflection from the p-spot. Alice Arnot doubled the lead in the 26th minute, flicking high into the roof of the net from a penalty corner variation back to her after the injection. Australia found themselves under tremendous pressure as half-time approached, but they managed to defend four late penalty corners to hold their 2-0 advantage at the break.
The Germans bossed the third quarter, creating circle entries almost at will, having shots from open play, and steadily increasing their penalty corner count without result. Bartram was sensational in goal, and she received tremendous assistance from her brave first wave runners. Germany were left with no option but to substitute their goalkeeper with five minutes remaining in the match, but it was to no avail, and they were left to rue 10 missed penalty corners.
The player of the match was awarded to Australia’s Jocelyn Bartram, who said: “We had an amazing defensive effort from the whole team today, and to come away with a 2-0 win is exactly what we came for.
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (10 goals)
Men – Tomas Domene (ARG) (14 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 17 June 2026
HC Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NED)
Women
Result: Match 45 (W)
Spain 1 – 1 Ireland (SO: 3-0)
Player of the match: Berta Agullo (ESP)
Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Juan Pedro Rodriguez (ARG), Dan Barstow (ENG-video)
Men
Result: Match 45 (M)
India 3 – 1 Germany
Player of the match: Hardik Singh (IND)
Umpires: Jayden Pearson (AUS), Tamara Leonard (AUS), Aleisha Neumann (AUS-video)
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London (UK)
Men
Result: Match 44 (M)
Australia 1 – 2 Argentina
Player of the match: Tomas Domene (ARG)
Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRL), Lisette Baljon (NED), Paul van den Assum (NED-video)
Women
Result: Match 44 (W)
Germany 0 – 2 Australia
Player of the match: Jocelyn Bartram (AUS)
Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Lorijn de Kraker (NED), Ayden Shrives (RSA-video)