India jumps one place to 5th in latest FIH rankings

India has made the jump by virtue of its second consecutive runner-up finish at the Champions Trophy in Breda, Netherlands earlier this month.

Sardar Sing (r) and Rupinder Pal Singh (l) during a training session at Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Bengaluru.

India has jumped a rung to fifth position in the men’s hockey world rankings issued by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday.

India has made the jump by virtue of its second consecutive runner-up finish at the Champions Trophy in Breda, Netherlands earlier this month.

Champions Trophy winner Australia beat India in a shoot-out in the final to retain its No.1 ranking. Australia (1906 points) sits 23 points ahead of second-ranked Argentina (1883) and is followed by Belgium (1709) and Netherlands (1654).

With 1484 points, India has pushed Germany (1456) to sixth from the fifth spot.

Most of the teams in the top 20 are non-movers, although 18th placed Austria and 19th ranked Egypt have climbed ahead of France, which now sits in 20th position.