India’s hockey team faced another setback in the European leg of the FIH Men’s Hockey Pro League as they suffered their second successive defeat, this time against a dominant Great Britain side. The match, held at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre, ended with a 2-4 victory for the hosts.
The game started with an early lead for Great Britain as Timothy Nurse struck a field goal in the sixth minute. However, India quickly responded, with Harmanpreet equalizing from a penalty corner in the 13th minute. The British team regained the lead in the 31st minute when Sorsby Thomas scored their second goal. The Indians seemed caught off guard as Lee Morton scored an excellent goal in the 33rd minute, extending Britain’s lead.
Harmanpreet once again showcased his skills and reduced the deficit for India with his second goal of the day, also from a penalty corner, in the 42nd minute. This goal made him the all-time top-scorer in the Pro League with 35 goals. Despite the Indian team’s efforts, Bandurak Nicholas widened England’s lead with a goal in the 53rd minute, making it challenging for India to stage a comeback.
The defeat against Great Britain followed India’s loss to Olympic champions Belgium the previous day, where they were beaten 1-2. The English team started the match aggressively, and Nurse capitalized on the opportunity to score his maiden goal at the senior level. The Indians struggled to match the intensity of their opponents throughout the game.
India’s goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak displayed remarkable skills, making crucial saves to deny Great Britain further goals. He thwarted Sam Ward’s attempts on multiple occasions, maintaining India’s hopes of a comeback. Jarmanpreet Singh and Karthi initiated an attacking move, nearly equalizing for India, but they were unable to find the back of the net until Harmanpreet’s successful penalty corner.
Despite the Indian team’s morale-boosting equalizer, Great Britain dominated the match and regained the lead in the third quarter. Sorsby converted a penalty corner, followed by Lee’s field goal, securing a comfortable advantage for the hosts. With this victory, Great Britain consolidated their position at the top of the table, surpassing India in the standings.
The Indian team now faces the challenge of regrouping and analyzing their performances in the European leg of the Pro League. They need to address their struggles in maintaining intensity and executing key opportunities. As the tournament progresses, India will strive to bounce back and showcase their true potential on the international stage.
