Tokyo: Harmanpreet Singh scored a burial goal and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stood like a wall in the closing minutes when the Indian men’s hockey team overcame a jump from New Zealand to add a 3-2 victory in the opening Olympic match here on Saturday.
HarmanPreet (3rd and 33rd minutes) scored a double for India, while Rupinder Pal Singh (10) was another goal-goal-getter for the former championship, currently ranked fourth in the world, at the pool at the Hockey Oi Stadion here.
For New Zealand ranked eighth, Kane Russell scored from a penalty in the sixth minute before Stephen Jenness (4th minute) reduced the margin of defeat later in the match.
India will play next, Mighty Australia on Sunday.
#Teamindia | # Tokyo2020 | #Hockey Men’s Hockey is a result ✌️ for a victory for the Indian men’s hockey team …
https://t.co/ybb20kzebg- Indian Team (@WearTeMindia) 1627095867000Kindies in the sixth minute when Russell found the upper right corner of India’s goal past Sreejesh with a larger fierce.
Even though he did not score, the Mandeep Singh striker was a living wire for India in advance and got a penalty for his side, which resulted in a penalty stroke from where Lupinder drew parity in the 10th minute.
New Zealand was not left behind when they gave the Indian defense for the money to secure four consecutive penalties but wasted all.
From the counterattack, Gurjant approached the superiority of India but his efforts were saved by the New Zealand goalkeeper Leon Hayward.
Four minutes to the second quarter, Hayward came back to the scene when he continued to get rid of the Indian Ax Manpreet Singh from the situation one on one.
India beat New Zealand 3-2 # Meninblue started their Olympic campaign with a style when they beat #Blackcaps in 5-G …
https://t.co/hjKC0Q0XCG- Saimedia (@media_sai) 1627095450000Tet six minutes later, lead 2- 1 in the first round.
Three minutes after the end of the tip, HarmanPreet returned in a thick thing when he changed the second penalty angle of the day with a precision strike.
India secured another penalty a few minutes later but this time HarmanPreet’s efforts were saved by the Kiwi defense.
But the match came alive when Jenness scored with a beautiful finish past Sreejesh at the post in the 43rd minute.
Three minutes from full time, the strike of Lalit Upadhayay from the top of the circle was blocked brilliantly by Hayward to keep New Zealand in hunting.
It was all New Zealand in the last few minutes of the match when they pressed hard for the equalizer and in the process of producing three points of a penalty in fast succession but Sreejesh came to India rescue made some brilliant rescue to keep opponents in the bay.
With 24 seconds to leave, New Zealand secured another penalty corner but once again experienced Sreejesh came to Indian rescue and helped his team secure full points from the game.