Three goals, all from penalty corners, and two of them off captain Harmanpreet Singh’s stick. That was India’s opening statement at the FIH Hockey World Cup, a 3-1 win over Wales on Independence Day at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
The defender Sanjay scored the other. Wales got one back late from open play.
A fast start from the corner
India attacked from the first whistle, though Wales had the first real chance. Jack Pritchard beat the Indian defense and the goalkeeper, then shot narrowly wide. After that it was one-way traffic.
Harmanpreet’s first drag flick missed the target. A minute later India won another corner and Sanjay did not miss, putting India ahead. Harmanpreet added the second before the opening quarter ended. Jarman and the debutant Rajinder Singh both had chances from the top of the circle, one blocked and one stopped by the Welsh defense, and Harmanpreet sent a later corner narrowly wide. India collected its fifth corner early in the second quarter.
The third goal came in the third quarter. Harmanpreet hit a powerful ground shot from another corner into the boards for 3-0.
Wales get a goal, India get a worry
Wales waited until late in the fourth quarter for their first penalty corner. India’s goalkeeper Karketta saved a flick from James Tyson, but the ball ran loose in a scramble in front of goal. The umpire first gave a penalty stroke. A video review found that Sam Walsh’s effort had already crossed the line, and the call became a field goal instead.
India’s forwards failed to score from open play all afternoon, and the late goal showed a team stretched in defense. Both are issues for the management with England and Pakistan still to come.
The crowd was good for a day game. Wagener Stadium holds about 10,000 and was nearly empty for the women’s opener, which Australia won 2-0 against Japan. For India it was almost two-thirds full, with supporters who had travelled from elsewhere in Europe and North America. Jugraj Singh, whose sticks failed a technical test the day before, was left out of the 16-man squad.
India had beaten Wales 4-1 and 4-2 in their last two meetings, the previous one at the 2023 World Cup. The three points are the maximum available.
Sources
- India begin World Cup campaign with 3-1 win over Wales
- India Opens FIH World Cup Campaign With Win Over Wales
