Hockey India League 2024/25 Points Table: Updated HIL standings on December 28

The sixth edition of the Hockey India League got off to a blistering start with a spectacular opening ceremony. It was followed by the tournament opener, which witnessed Team Gonasika and the Delhi SG Pipers going head to head.

The Graham Reid-coached SG Pipers was the sharper of the two teams in the opening quarter before Team Gonasika got their act together in the latter part of the second.

After both sides were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time, the Delhi SG Pipers edged Team Gonasika 4-2 in an exciting shootout to claim a bonus point.

An early penalty corner goal slotted in by Argentina's Tomas Domene shot the SG Pipers into the lead in the fifth minute. Graham Reid's team did well to manufacture a series of forays, which kept Team Gonasika on the back foot.

Manpreet Singh forced an entry into the striking circle at the end of the opening circle. However, he was unable to take a crack at goal before Nikkin Thimmaiah did well to earn a penalty corner for Team Gonasika. The decision was, however, overturned by the video umpire.

Lee Morton's shot on target was taken care of by Benjamin Rennie even as a slightly sluggish Gonasika side won a penalty corner soon after.

Victor Charlet's drag flick missed the target before Nikkin Thimmaiah struck the post from open play in the 26th minute. Struan Walker levelled things up for Gonasika by pouncing on the deflection off the goalpost.

Charlet made no mistake after Araijeet Singh Hundal won his side a penalty corner in the 35th minute to allow Team Gonasika to veer ahead with a 2-1 lead. A deft little touch from Tomas Domene restored parity for the Delhi side four minutes later.

Oliver Payne brought about a couple of back-to-back saves to deny Tomas Domene after the SG Pipers won two penalty corners at the end of the third quarter.

Tomas Domene's drag flick rebounded off the post following Delhi's fifth penalty corner in the final quarter following, which goalkeeper Benjamin Rennie kept the Gonasika strikers at bay.

Rennie also outdid Oliver Payne in the battle of the goalkeepers during the shootout to help his side to a bonus point. The win enabled the Delhi SG Pipers to climb to the top of the points table on the opening day.

As per the Hockey India League regulations, a team earns three points for an outright win. In case scores are level at the end of regulation time, teams go into a shootout with the side winning the shootout being awarded a bonus point.

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Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Men's League Phase (Saturday, December 28)

	PLAYED	WON	LOST	S/O WIN	S/O LOSS	GF	GA	GD	POINTS
Delhi SG Pipers	1			1					2
Team2 Gonasika	1				1				1
UP Rudras	0								0
Hyderabad Toofans	0								0
TN Dragons	0								0
Soorma Hockey Club	0								0
Rarh Bengal Tigers	0								0
Kalinga Lancers	0								0

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Hockey India League 2024: Men's League Fixtures (Sunday, December 29)

Here are the complete fixtures for the League matches of the men's edition of the Hockey India League to be played on December 29:

Hyderabad Toofans vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, 6 pm IST *(Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)

Soorma Hockey Club vs Tamil Nadu Dragons, 8:15 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)