Rourkela : The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela witnessed a riveting clash as the Indian men’s hockey team held the world No. 1 Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in their FIH Pro League 2023-24 encounter. Despite the deadlock, the Dutch team clinched a bonus point by winning the shootout 4-2.
The Netherlands took an early lead as Floris Middendorp (4′) found the net, putting India under pressure. However, India showcased resilience, leveling the score in the 38th minute through Hardik Singh’s clinical finish off a penalty corner.
The shootout favored the Netherlands, with Jorrit Croon, Thierry Brinkman, Duco Telgenkamp, and Joep de Mol securing the win. Araijeet Singh Hundal and Lalit Kumar scored for India.
India’s commendable effort and resilience throughout the match, especially in the second and third quarters, showcased their determination to compete at the highest level. Despite the final quarter’s mounting pressure, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a shootout.
The draw places India in a respectable fourth position in the FIH Pro League standings with 11 points from six matches. The Netherlands leads with 20 points from 10 matches, followed by Australia with 15 points from five matches.
Next up for India is a crucial match against world No. 5 Australia in the FIH Pro League 2023-24 on Saturday, where they aim to capitalize on their strong performance and secure vital points in the league.
Despite missing out on the shootout bonus, India’s performance against the top-ranked Netherlands highlights their potential and determination to compete at the highest level in international hockey. As the tournament progresses, Indian hockey enthusiasts eagerly anticipate further displays of skill and tenacity from the national team.
