The Indian men’s hockey team kicked off their FIH Pro League 2023-24 campaign with an impressive 4-1 triumph over Spain at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Harmanpreet Singh notched two goals (7’, 20’), Jugraj Singh added another (24’), and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay sealed the victory with a goal (50’) for India, while Marc Miralles (34’) scored the lone goal for Spain.
Despite Spain, ranked eighth in the FIH world hockey rankings, showing early aggression and creating opportunities, it was India, ranked third globally, who struck first in the seventh minute. Hardik Singh won a foul inside the Spanish circle, leading to Harmanpreet Singh converting his 150th penalty corner goal.
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India extended their lead to three goals by halftime, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring his 171st international goal from a penalty stroke and Jugraj Singh converting a penalty corner.
Although Spain managed to pull one back through Marc Miralles, India maintained their dominance. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay sealed the victory with a sensational reverse hit in the final quarter.
Next up for the Indian team is a match against world No. 1 Netherlands in the FIH Pro League 2023-24, scheduled at the same venue on Sunday.
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