Indian men's team climbs to fifth spot in hockey rankings

Lausanne, June 28 (IANS) India's men's team climbed to the fifth spot of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings on Tuesday.

The rankings were released after the conclusion of the hugely entertaining 2016 Hockey Champions Trophy in London. In the men's tournament final, India were pipped by reigning world champions Australia 1-3 via penalty shoot-out and had to settle for their maiden silver medal in the meet earlier this month.

India's previous best performance in the Champions Trophy was a bronze medal in 1982.

Prior to the Champions Trophy, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans-coached India had also finished runners-up in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April.

There is no change in the men's top three nations, with the Netherlands ranked second and Germany third. While England (and Great Britain) remain fourth, India have leapfrogged Belgium (6) and Argentina (7) into fifth place.

New Zealand, South Korea and Pakistan fill up the next three places inside top-10 respectively.

In the women's rankings, Argentina's stunning title success at the Champions Trophy kept them in second place but has also seen them narrow the gap with the top-ranked Dutch.

Australia and New Zealand remain in third and fourth place respectively, but fifth place is now held by United States, who have moved up from seventh courtesy of the brilliant bronze medal that they won at the Champions Trophy on Sunday.

India remained in the 13th spot.

The rankings were confirmed following the conclusion of the Women's Hockey Champions Trophy in London on Sunday.

--IANS

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