{"id":41629,"date":"2026-08-15T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.com\/?p=41629"},"modified":"2026-08-16T11:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T17:29:10","slug":"harmanpreet-scores-twice-as-india-beat-wales-3-1-in-hockey-world-cup-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.com\/?p=41629","title":{"rendered":"Harmanpreet scores twice as India beat Wales 3-1 in Hockey World Cup opener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amstelveen:<\/strong> India began their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales in their opening Pool D match at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. Two penalty-corner goals from captain Harmanpreet Singh, either side of an early strike by Sanjay, gave India three points from their first outing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanjay opened the scoring in the eighth minute, also from a penalty corner. Harmanpreet followed in the 11th and added a third in the 43rd. Sam Welsh pulled one back for Wales in the 56th minute, but the Indian defence saw out the closing stages without further trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanjay makes it count at the second attempt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wales were the brighter side early on and worked their way into the Indian circle a couple of times in the opening minutes. Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera read the danger each time and cleared the threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India took a while to settle. Their first circle entry came in the seventh minute, when Dilpreet Singh opened up an opening that led to a penalty corner. Sanjay’s drag-flick was blocked by the first rusher, but the ball hit his foot and India were given a retake. The second attempt beat Welsh goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill, who was wrong-footed as the ball slipped through his legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two minutes later India nearly had a second. Jarmanpreet Singh picked up a loose ball inside the circle and sent a reverse hit just over the goal. The lead did double in the 11th minute, after a challenge on Sanjay earned another penalty corner. Harmanpreet was on the field this time and put away a precise flick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India won a third penalty corner in the 13th minute, with Harmanpreet looking for a deflection from a diving Dilpreet, but Wales survived it. Shilanand Lakra briefly left the pitch after taking a blow to the mouth. India went into the first break two goals up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mohith denies Wales on the break<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The second quarter followed much the same pattern, with India holding possession and territory. Manpreet Singh won an early penalty corner and Nilakanta Sharma almost got a touch on a ricochet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wales did find a way through in the 19th minute. A long ball put Jack Pritchard into space inside the Indian circle, but goalkeeper Mohith HS came off his line quickly to cut the angle and forced the shot into the side boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Rajinder Singh all had sight of goal before half-time. None of them could add to the score, and India led 2-0 at the interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harmanpreet’s flick puts the game away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wales tried to push up after the restart without much reward. India kept working the ball into the wide areas, pulling the Welsh midfield and defence out of shape. Harmanpreet picked out Lakra with a long slap push, and Abhishek had another opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third goal came in the 43rd minute. India won a penalty corner and Harmanpreet drilled a low flick to the goalkeeper’s left at some speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakra came close in the 53rd minute when he tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper from close range, only to see it palmed away. A minute later Wales won a penalty corner, and Mohith produced a fine save to deflect a fast drag-flick that was on target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video referral confirms Wales goal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wales got on the board in the 56th minute after a scramble in front of the Indian goal. The umpire called for a video referral to check for a backstick offence on the goal-line and a possible penalty stroke. The review showed the ball had crossed the line before the offence, and Sam Welsh was given the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India stayed composed through the closing minutes. Mandeep sent Aditya through on the run, but the final touch would not come. The scoreline stayed at 3-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘We need to show more’, says Harmanpreet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Harmanpreet, named Player of the Match, said: “I think we started very well. I am happy that one of the young players (Sanjay) scored our opening goal. Overall, it was a pretty good game. All of us know the value of this World Cup and we have a clear mindset to win, and the belief is there. In our next game, we need to show more, create chances and score field goals as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India play England in their second Pool D match on 17 August 2026 at the same venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amstelveen: India began their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales in their opening Pool D match at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. Two penalty-corner goals from captain Harmanpreet Singh, either side of an early strike by Sanjay, gave India three points from their first outing. Sanjay opened the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hockey","category-hockey-hockey"],"yoast_head":"\nHarmanpreet scores twice as India beat Wales 3-1 in Hockey World Cup opener - IndianSportsNews.com - Latest Updated Sports News & Sports Blogs of Cricket, Hockey, Golf, Football, Tennis & Other Sports<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"India began their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales in their opening Pool D match at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.com\/?p=41629\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Harmanpreet scores twice as India beat Wales 3-1 in Hockey World Cup opener - 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