Tokyo: Check India vs New Zealand Hockey Highlights And Updates Tokyo Olympics India 3 – 2 New Zealand
Hello and welcome to our live hockey coverage of IND vs NZ, Live Score and Updates Tokyo Olympics Hockey Match Live between India and New Zealand which is being played at the Oi Hockey Stadium South Pitch.
The Indian defence along with goal-keeper PR Sreejesh came to the party just when the team needed it the most. With New Zealand pressing for the third goal and winning at least three penalty corners in the final minutes of the game, Sreejesh stood strong and kept the New Zealanders at bay by saving all three. At the end, India were able to hang on to the lead and beat New Zealand 3-2 in their first match in the Tokyo Olympics.
Earlier, Stephen Jenness reduced the deficit for New Zealand at the stroke of the third quarter that encouraged them to come back strong in the final quarter. India still held on to the lead 3-2 at the end of the third quarter. This was after Harmanpreet was again in the thick of things as he scored his second goal to extend India’s lead to 3-1 in the third quarter. The Indian defence had been right on the money for the most part of the match. Harmanpreet was also the reason behind India taking the lead in the second quarter and eventually went to half-time with the score 2-1 in India’s favour.
India conceded early in the first quarter but was quick to bounce back as Rupinder Pal Singh scored off a penalty stroke. At the end of the first quarter, both teams had scored once.
The Indian men’s hockey team would be seeking to reclaim a glorious past in their Tokyo 2020 campaign on Saturday (July 24) with expectations at a high. The Indians will be up against eighth-ranked New Zealand. The Indian men’s hockey has a rich history in the Summer Games having won the gold an unprecedented eight times in the past, the last of which came way back in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A slump followed but the last few years have seen a resurgence in fortunes. With a current world ranking of four, the Indians are considered a bright medal prospect this time around in Tokyo.
India are in Pool A with Australia (No 1), Argentina (7th), New Zealand (8th), Spain (9th) and hosts Japan (15th). Getting full points against all four lower-ranked teams will be vital if India are to get a good draw in the quarterfinals. In skipper Manpreet Singh, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh defender Birender Lakra and forward Mandeep Singh they have a strong leadership core that can keep the emotions in check and guide the Olympics first-timers, of which they have 10 in the squad here.
The match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to start at 6:30 am IST on Saturday, 24th July 2021. India will start favourites to win against New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand squads:
India: P.R. Sreejesh (GK); Manpreet Singh (C), Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Birendra Lakra, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh
New Zealand: Leon Hayward (GK); Blair Tarrant (C), Hugo Inglis, Steve Edwards, Sean Findlay, Stephen Jenness, Sam Lane, Dane Lett, Shea McAleese, Jared Panchia, Nick Ross, Kane Russell, Jacob Smith, Dylan Thomas, Nick Wilson, Nic Woods