India beat New Zealand, take unassailable 2-0 lead in hockey Test series
Hockey | July 21, 2018 18:55 ISTIndia beat New Zealand 3-1 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series at the Sports Authority of India's Bengaluru Campus.
India beat New Zealand 3-1 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series at the Sports Authority of India's Bengaluru Campus.
Indian Hockey Team would be eager to book their direct ticket to Tokyo Olympics: PR Shreejesh
Indian Hockey Team would be eager to book their direct ticket to Tokyo Olympics: PR Shreejesh
The Indian team will be the highest ranked side in the tournament, and will be the favourites to retain their title.
Indian men's hockey team forced a 1-1 draw against hosts Netherlands in their last league match to set up the Champions Trophy summit clash with world number one Australia.
India will be led by Rani Rampal, who has returned to the team after having been rested for the recently concluded 5th Women's Asian Champions Trophy held in South Korea.
Under the guidance of Harendra, who led the Indian junior men's hockey team to the WC title in 2016, the women's team finished an impressive fourth at the 2018 CWG.
India's junior hockey team thrashed hosts Thailand 25-0 in the opening match of the men's event at the Asian Youth Olympic Games Qualifier 2018 in Bangkok on Wednesday
Pakistan, the country that launched the hockey Champions Trophy back in 1978, take on arch-rivals and Asian champions India.
India thus avenged the 2-3 loss to Ireland in their last league stage match on Friday which had eliminated their already slim chances of qualifying for the medal rounds.
The Indian team looked in good shape as they made forays into the opposition half regularly and also defended well as a unit.
By virtue of this draw, last year’s bronze medallist India are now placed fourth in the table in the six-team tournament.
In the previous edition, India had finished third after beating New Zealand 4-0 while Great Britain won the title after beating Australia 4-3 in the final.
Manpreet, 25, said the CWG hockey competition is of a high standard with several top teams and his side would have to play their best to win a medal.
Pakistan, who are former champions were the 13th nation to qualify for the International hockey federation (FIH) event after favourable results.
India will next play world no.3 Belgium, who beat hosts New Zealand 4-0, in the summit clash tomorrow.
Sjoerd Marijne-coached India began the match with disciplined structure, playing two-touch hockey to rotate the ball swiftly and accurately to pave their way into Belgium's striking circle.
India's mantra today was to play aggressive and that's exactly what they did right from the start.
With a young team that features four debutants, Manpreet stressed on the importance of this tournament.
Despite having the better share of chances in their final Pool B match against Germany, the hosts could not execute them and went down 0-2.
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