~ Tigers will face Dragons, while Soorma will take on Toofans in the semifinals on 31st January ~
Rourkela, 30th January: The exhilarating group stage of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 concluded on Wednesday, with four out of the eight participating teams advancing to the semifinals after securing top four spots on the points table. Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Hyderabad Toofans, and Tamil Nadu Dragons earned their places in the next round, while Delhi SG Pipers, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Team Gonasika, and UP Rudras were eliminated.
The semifinals, scheduled for January 31 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, will see Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers face Tamil Nadu Dragons, while JSW Soorma Hockey Club will take on Hyderabad Toofans.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers topped the group stage with 19 points from 10 games, having secured 6 wins, 3 losses in regular time, and 1 shootout defeat. Jugraj Singh has been their standout performer, scoring nine goals.
“It’s been a rollercoaster journey, with both wins and losses along the way. But I’m pleased we’ve achieved our first goal of reaching the semifinals. Moving forward, we’ll focus on executing our strategies and plans on the field to get the best results,” said Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers Captain Rupinder Pal Singh.
JSW Soorma Hockey Club also accumulated 19 points from 10 matches, winning 4 games and losing 2 in regular time, along with 3 shootout victories and 1 defeat. Despite finishing with an identical point total to the Tigers, they trailed by a goal difference of +1 compared to the Tigers’ +2. Harmanpreet Singh, the team’s skipper, leads their goal tally with five goals.
“We didn’t have the ideal start, struggling to get the results we wanted initially. However, we kept improving with each match, and that helped us get back on track. We even performed well under pressure in some of our recent games. But the real challenge starts now, and we want to be fully prepared. We know our strengths and weaknesses, so we’ll train and plan for the semifinals accordingly,” expressed Harmanpreet Singh.
Hyderabad Toofans finished third with 18 points, thanks to 4 regular wins, 2 shootout victories, and a goal difference of +10. Tim Brand and Gonzalo Peillat have each netted six goals for the team.
“As a team, our journey has been solid so far. The young players, in particular, have stepped up and delivered. Competing in a league like this is challenging with the high level of competition and players from around the world. But the communication and camaraderie within our team have been excellent, and I’m confident we’ll continue to perform at our best in the upcoming matches,” said Hyderabad Toofans Captain Sumit.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Dragons secured the fourth spot with 18 points, registering 4 regular wins and 2 shootout victories but ending the group stage with a goal difference of -1. Jip Janssen has been their top scorer with six goals.
“The journey through the 10 group games was thrilling, full of ups and downs. Each match taught us something new, and we enjoyed every moment. First, we were excited about the return of Hero HIL after seven years, and now, we’re excited to play in the semifinals. We’re looking forward to putting our best foot forward in the upcoming games,” said Tamil Nadu Dragons Skipper Amit Rohidas.
“Also, the crowd support has been incredible, and I want to thank all the fans who came to the stadium and cheered for us. I encourage them to keep supporting us by coming out for the semifinals and showing their continued support,” he added.
In terms of head-to-head encounters, the Tigers previously lost 2-1 to the Dragons, while the Soorma’s game against the Toofans ended 1-1, with the Toofans prevailing 4-3 in the shootout.
