Yearender: With Graham Reid at helm, Indian hockey sees hope, optimism in 2019
India need to work on finishing and deep defence: Hockey coach Graham Reid
Made errors in penalty corners and need to improve energy levels, says Manpreet Singh
Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: Mandeep Singh's brace saves India blushes against minnows Russia
Speaking ahead of the announcement of his team for the qualifiers, Reid said that he is satisfied with the performances his team put in against Belgium and Spain during their preparatory tour
India, who have hosted the men's World Cup thrice, wants to conduct the event in the January 13 to 29, 2023 window.
India's clinical performance at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium saw goals from Shilanand Lakra (26', 29'), Dilpreet Singh (44'), Gursahibjit Singh (48') and Mandeep Mor (50').
It was Japan who took an early lead in the game, their very first attack earning them a first penalty corner. From the resultant drag flick, Wataru Matsumoto converted to give them the lead.
Despite attacking efforts from both sides, it was the two defences that stood out and impressed.
PR Sreejesh feels India's tour to Belgium from September 26 to October 3 will make the team sharp and ready for the Olympic Qualifiers to be held on November 1.
Harmanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Gursahibjit Singh and Mandeep Singh scored for India in their 5-0 hammering of New Zealand in the Olympic Test Event.
Besides Manpreet and Sreejesh, also rested from the 18-member men's squad for the August 17 to 21 event is defender Surender Kumar.
Varun Kumar converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute to hand India the lead before Simranjeet Singh (55th) scored a diving field goal from skipper Manpreet Singh's brilliant pass to secure full three points.
Hockey India has retained all 18 players in the Indian team that took part at the World Cup last December.
The Pakistan team, which almost missed the 2018 hockey World Cup in India last December due to lack of funds, is scheduled to play its first phase matches of Pro Hockey League next month.
2018 turned out to be a year of 'what-could-have-been' for the eight-time Olympic champions.
The Netherlands will now play India in the last-eight round on Thursday.
Like everyone else, Manpreet too expects the Dutch to sail into the last-eight round.
Ask former India captain Sandeep Singh, a lethal drag-flicker in his playing days, about the concern and he sums it up beautifully.
The skipper asserted that with league matches coming to an end, knockout matches are more important and they need to work really hard.
Pakistan's campaign at the ongoing men's hockey World Cup went from bad to worse after the team suffered a twin blow on Thursday.
While Shah Rukh Khan shared his words of wisdom with the team captains, Madhuri Dixit put up an elegant performance while AR Rahman belted out a few hit numbers.
Manpreet Singh will lead India's 18-member hockey squad for the FIH World Cup but the experienced Rupinder Pal Singh and SV Sunil missed out.
The PCB chief couldn't advance any loan to the PHF since the federation had not returned a loan given to them in 2000.
Indian and Pakistan were declared as the joint winners after the final was abandoned due to bad weather conditions.
It turned out to be a tall task for the world no. 5 Indians to get past Japan against whom they had registered a convincing 9-0 win in the league stages.
The final semi-final line-up will be decided after last round robin matches on Thursday.
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