Indian hockey

With their wins, South Africa, Wales, Argentina and India head into the 9-12 playoff matches while losses for Malaysia, France, Chile and Japan see them go to the 13-16 playoff matches. All classification matches will take place on January 28. Malaysia were quicker off the blocks with form man Faizal Saari managing to get a shot in the circle inside the first minute, but South Africa survived that early chance and started to get in the game on counter attacks.

Mandeep Singh (32'), Abhishek (35', 43'), Vivek Sagar Prasad (39') and Harmanpreet Singh (45', 58'), Manpreet Singh (58') and Sukhjeet Singh (59') were the goal scorers for India. Japan and India played an even contest in the first quarter with both teams showing offensive intent but neither team could manage to create a clear scoring opportunity.

This was India's last match against the South African side before they take on World No.1 Netherlands on January 23. It was Vaishnavi Vithal Palkhe, playing her debut tour for the senior side, who starred for the team, scoring two crucial goals that helped them hold the home team to a draw. South Africa made a strong start on Sunday, after a series of losses against India.

India failed to capitalise on a 3-1 lead in the third quarter and allowed New Zealand to score twice to end the match 3-3 in regulation time. Lalit Upadhyay (17th min), Sukhjeet Singh (24th min) and Varun Kumar (40th min) scored for India in regulation time while Sam Lane (28th min), Kane Russell (43rd min) and Sean Findlay (49th min) scored for the Black Sticks.

Having won the first two matches rather convincingly, the Indian team stuck to basics as they executed the chances really well and played a disciplined structure to stay ahead. Rani (2'), Deep Grace Ekka (18'), Vandana Katariya (20') and Sangita Kumari (46') scored one goal each for India.

Midfielder Shamsher Singh (22'), Akashdeep Singh (33', 46') and Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh (60') scored the goals for India while Gareth Furlong (43') and Jacob Draper (45') netted for World Cup debutants Wales. India will now play New Zealand, who came third in Pool C, for a place in the quarter-finals in the crossovers.

Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, the industrious midfielder took to the pitch as a senior for the first time as she was selected to start against South Africa in this game. It marked a momentous occasion for the young player who led the Indian women's junior team at the Uniphar U23 5-Nation Tournament 2022 in May.

France had started with a 0-8 defeat against World No. 1 Australia while South Africa had lost 0-1 to Argentina. France and South Africa have competed multiple times over the past year in the FIH Hockey Pro League as well as the recently concluded FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup.

Brinkman scored twice in the first quarter, slamming home field-goals in the 2nd and 12th minutes of the match. Koen Bijen (19th min) and Tjep Hoedemakers (54th min) scored the fourth goal for the Dutch who won the title in 1973, 1990 and 1998. The Netherlands had started their campaign for their fourth title with a 4-0 win against Malaysia.

Marc Reyne (16th min, 38th min) and Marc Miralles (32nd min, 56th min) scored a brace of goals each while skipper Alvaro Iglesias (22nd min) struck one goal for Spain, who had lost 0-2 to India at the same venue on Friday. James Carson scored the lone goal for Wales in the 52nd minute. The win put Spain's campaign back on track with a comprehensive victory as they are in a tight race with hosts India and England for the quarterfinal spot from Pool D.