New Delhi: Team India is off to a winning start as it defeated France 5-0 in the men’s FIH Hockey Pro League at the Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Tuesday, February 08, 2022.
The World No. 3 India took a while to gain momentum in the first quarter that lasted 15 minutes. Once the team gained momentum, it thrashed its opponents in the next three quarters.
Nilakanta Sharma had an early chance, but he shot over. Though India received back-to-back penalty corners in the first quarter, the French stood firm and defended well.
India began to dominate in the second quarter. The team got its third penalty corner, and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh drilled a low shot from the right of the French keeper in the 21st minute. When India received a fourth penalty corner, Varun Kumar sent a low shot similar to the first goal in the 24th minute and scored. India was leading 2-0.
Though France received their first penalty corner in the 27th minute, Indians safely negotiated the corner before making a swift counter-attack that resulted in another goal. Abhishek Lakra assisted Shamsher Singh, who slammed another past the French keeper and scored a point in the 28th minute.
Meanwhile, Mandeep Singh made it 4-0 within two minutes into the third quarter through a field goal before Akashdeep Singh found the target with a reverse sweep and scored another field goal in the 41st minute.
France failed to score despite back-to-back penalty corners in the 48th minute. India won by a clean sweep 5-0. Team India will face the hosts, South Africa, on Thursday.
(Avya Mathur)