Men’s hockey team returns to India after winning Asian Champions Trophy
The Indian side led by captain Harmanpreet Singh secured the trophy for the fifth time after beating hosts China 1-0 in the final at the Moqi Hockey Training Base on Tuesday.
The Indian side led by captain Harmanpreet Singh secured the trophy for the fifth time after beating hosts China 1-0 in the final at the Moqi Hockey Training Base on Tuesday.
Led by ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, defending champions India will enter the match as table toppers, having convincingly won all their four Asian Champions Trophy games so far.
Vice Captained by midfielder Hardik Singh the five-match tour will be a litmus test for the team in their preparations for the Olympic Paris 2024.
Ranked world no 4, India is placed in Pool B alongside formidable opponents: reigning Olympic Champions Belgium (world No. 2), Australia (world No. 5), Argentina (world No. 7), New Zealand (world No. 10), and Ireland (world No. 12). Notably, Argentina and Australia also have etched their names as former Olympic Champions.
India will play against hosts Spain, Germany, France and Belgium in the tournament, which will serve as the preparatory event ahead of the FIH Pro League games.
India dominated the match and had 51 percent of possession while Wales had 48 percent. India made 28 attacking circle penetration.
India led 5-0 at halftime after scoring three goals in the first quarter and two more in the second. They scored four goals in the third quarter before sealing the victory with two more in the fourth and final quarter.
With a little over two weeks to go for the Indian men's hockey team's first match at the Commonwealth Games 2022, the National team's preparations for the prestigious tournament are carrying on in full swing.
Rabichandra, who has played 31 matches for the Indian junior team since making his debut in 2017, expressed that Chinglensana has been a huge inspiration.
The Indian team continued to hold possession and put tremendous pressure on the New Zealand defence as they ended the first quarter at 1-0.
