Well, if you are a hockey fan, the world league championship has started. India beat France 3-2 in the opening game.
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NEW DELHI: India were given a tough fight in their opening fixture of the FIH Hockey World League semifinals at Antwerp, Belgium on Saturday by the resilient French team, but managed to scrape past the 18th ranked team with a thrilling 3-2 win.
After France had shocked India by taking the lead in the third minute courtesy an Olivier Sanhez strike, India fought back well to score two goals in two minutes to take the lead by the halftime. Manpreet Singh converted a penalty corner while Devindar Walmiki intercepted a Dharamvir pass to find the back of the net.
France enjoyed most of the possession in the first two quarters and ran the inexperienced Indian defence close, only to be denied by goalkeeper and vice-captain PR Sreejesh. Rival goalkeeper Martin Zylbermann was also in top form and saved two certain goals.
France had better penetration than the Indian forwards and they were rewarded with the second goal when Simon Marin found the net with a hard shot jab in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter both teams got their chances and it was Sardar Singh's brilliance two minutes before the close of that eventually made the difference.
After getting the ball in the midfield the Indian skipper shimmied past two French defenders triggering a counter-attack that ended when Ramandeep Singh pounced on a loose ball inside the D and romped home the winning third goal.
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India beat France 3-2 in Hockey World League opener - The Times of India
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NEW DELHI: India were given a tough fight in their opening fixture of the FIH Hockey World League semifinals at Antwerp, Belgium on Saturday by the resilient French team, but managed to scrape past the 18th ranked team with a thrilling 3-2 win.
After France had shocked India by taking the lead in the third minute courtesy an Olivier Sanhez strike, India fought back well to score two goals in two minutes to take the lead by the halftime. Manpreet Singh converted a penalty corner while Devindar Walmiki intercepted a Dharamvir pass to find the back of the net.
France enjoyed most of the possession in the first two quarters and ran the inexperienced Indian defence close, only to be denied by goalkeeper and vice-captain PR Sreejesh. Rival goalkeeper Martin Zylbermann was also in top form and saved two certain goals.
France had better penetration than the Indian forwards and they were rewarded with the second goal when Simon Marin found the net with a hard shot jab in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter both teams got their chances and it was Sardar Singh's brilliance two minutes before the close of that eventually made the difference.
After getting the ball in the midfield the Indian skipper shimmied past two French defenders triggering a counter-attack that ended when Ramandeep Singh pounced on a loose ball inside the D and romped home the winning third goal.
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India beat France 3-2 in Hockey World League opener - The Times of India
