Indian hockey

In the first game of the day, HAR Hockey Academy recorded a 2-2 draw with SAI BAL Team. Sushmita Panna (2') and Himanshi Gawande (29') netted one goal each for HAR Hockey Academy. SAI fought back through a brace from Pooja (37', 42') to rescue a point from the match.

In the first game of the day, Har Hockey Academy took on Salute Hockey Academy and beat them by a comprehensive 17-0 scoreline. The goal scorers were Bhateri (4', 44'), Shashi Khasha (6', 40'), Kriti (8', 45'), Seema (9', 51'), Saavi (14', 32', 47'), Pinki (17', 36', 42'), Team Captain Usha (23'), Pooja (35'), and Monu (38').

The award was received by Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh during the AHF Congress held in Mungyeong, Korea, on Thursday. The prestigious quadrennial event featuring 16 teams from across the globe was held in two world-class venues in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.

In the updated list, which was released on Friday following the completion of matches in Rourkela, the Netherlands moved to the top spot with 2848.28 points as Australia dropped points after losing to India and Germany in Rourkela. Belgium are at the second spot with 2845.82 points while Germany (2752.12) are third with India following at fourth with 2689.07 points.

It was a highly competitive clash between India and Australia as the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in regulation time to take one point apiece. India then edged Australia in the sudden deaths of the shoot-outs by a 4-3 margin to claim the bonus point. Through the first five attempts in the shoot-out, the teams stayed level 3-3.

Germany scored in the second minute when Tom Grambusch converted a penalty corner but the hosts came back strongly in the second quarter with Jugraj Singh (20th min pc), Abhishek (21st min & 50th min), Karthi (23rd min & 45th min) and Harmanpreet Singh (25th min) scoring for them. In between Gonzalo Peillat (22nd min) and Malte Hellwig (30th min) scored two goals for Germany but the reigning World Champions could not prevent India from securing a memorable victory.

Riding on their impressive 3-2 win against reigning World Champions Germany, Indian attack powered through each quarter setting up some mouth-watering goals against Australia. It was a hat-trick by Captain Harmanpreet Singh (14', 15', 56'), and a goal each by Jugraj Singh (18') and Selvam Karthi (26') that helped in India's victory while Joshua Beltz (3'), Ky Willott (43'), Ben Staines (53') and Aran Zalewski (57') scored for Australia.

Goals were scored by Harmanpreet Singh (30+) and Sukhjeet Singh (32' and 43') for India while Paul-Philipp Kaufmann (45') and Michel Struthoff (58') scored for Germany. India had begun this season of the prestigious league with a 4-3 and 7-4 win against New Zealand followed by a 2-3 loss and 2-2 (3-1 SO) win against Spain in the home games played in October-November last year.

The 48-year-old South African, with nearly 25 years of coaching experience, will join the team at the earliest upon completing formalities, Hockey India said in a release. Fulton has shown exemplary results in his previous roles. His rise to fame started with a stint with the Irish men's team as the head coach between 2014 to 2018 when the team qualified for the Rio Olympic Games 2016, their first Olympic qualification in 100 years. This historic feat also won him the FIH Coach of the Year in 2015.

India will be captained by experienced campaigner Harmanpreet Singh, who led the team to crucial victories as skipper during the FIH Men's Hockey Pro League 2022/2023 matches against Spain and New Zealand in October and November last year. Hardik Singh has been named as the vice-captain of the team. The 20-member team includes experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, and young and skillful Pawan replacing Krishan Bahadur Pathak who has sought personal leave on the occasion of his marriage.