HAPPY STICKS
India pip NZ in hockey opener
Tokyo, July 24: Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace and veteran goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh stood like a wall in the closing minutes as the Indian men’s hockey team overcame a late surge from New Zealand to eke out a close 3-2 win in its opening Olympic Games match here on Saturday.
Aside from Harmanpreet (26th and
33rd minutes), Rupinder Pal Singh
(10th) was the other goal-getter for the eight-time former champions, currently ranked fourth in the world, in the Pool A match at the Oi hockey stadium here.
For the eighth-ranked New Zealand, Kane Russell scored from a penalty corner in the sixth minute before Stephen Jenness (43rd minute) reduced the margin of defeat later in the match.
India will next play mighty Australia on Sunday. The Kookaburras beat hosts Japan 5-3.
India’s chief coach Graham Reid was happy to start the campaign on a winning note but said there are many areas to improve ahead of Sunday’s tough match.
“Winning three points in a competition like the Olympic Games is really important. I think we had a good second and third quarter but the first and fourth we struggled a little bit,” the coach said.
“When we watch the video later today, we will be able to find out what we need to get better at and surely there are going to be things we learn from today too,” he added.
INDIA WOMEN LOSE
TO NETHERLANDS
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s hockey team fought valiantly in the first two quarters before losing steam to go down 1-5 against world no. 1 Netherlands in their opening pool match.
Felice Albers (6th,
43rd) scored a brace for Netherlands, while Margot van Geffen
(33rd minute), Frederique Matla (45th) and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker (52nd) were the other goal getters for the three-time champions and reigning Olympic silver medallist. India’s lone goal was scored by skipper Rani Rampal in the
10th minute.