Harmanpreet Singh scored a decisive penalty stroke with just two minutes remaining in India’s Paris Olympics opener against New Zealand, securing a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
The Indian men’s hockey team, trailing 0-1, fought back to take a 2-1 lead by the end of the third quarter, thanks to goals from Mandeep Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad. However, Simon Child equalized for New Zealand with just over seven minutes left, bringing the score to 2-2. With only two minutes left on the clock, India was awarded a penalty stroke, which Harmanpreet Singh converted to seal the win.
Tough Pool B Awaits Indian Men’s Hockey Team
The Indian men’s hockey team finds themselves in a challenging Pool B at the Paris Olympics, alongside defending champions Belgium, formidable Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. Meanwhile, Pool A features the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and hosts France. Four teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals.
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Strategic Shift Under Coach Craig Fulton
Under the guidance of coach Craig Fulton, India has adopted a more balanced approach, shifting focus from purely attacking to incorporating strong defensive strategies while remaining adaptable. India secured their spot in Paris by clinching the Asian Games gold in 2023. Leading up to the Games, their performance in the FIH Pro League’s Bhubaneswar and Rourkela legs was notable: they defeated Spain twice, split results with the Netherlands, lost to Australia twice, and won both matches against Ireland.
Pre-Olympics Preparation in Europe
The Indian men’s hockey team geared up for the Paris Olympics by arriving in Europe ahead of the Games. They underwent a 3-day mental conditioning camp in Switzerland and participated in intense practice matches against Malaysia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain in the days leading up to their opening Pool B match at Paris 2024.
Redemption Against New Zealand
First up in Pool B for the Indian men’s hockey team was New Zealand, the very team that had ended their campaign at their previous global event. The 2023 World Cup was anticipated as a golden opportunity for India to shine on home turf, but they were unexpectedly defeated by New Zealand in the crossover stage. The loss was particularly hard on the squad, and especially on Harmanpreet Singh, who was leading the team for the first time at a major tournament. His key asset, the drag flick, had faltered during the match. Determined not to face a similar fate, Harmanpreet and his teammates were focused on avoiding any slip-ups against New Zealand this time around.
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