Tokyo Olympics: Hockey - India lose to Australia 1-7
Welcome to our live blog coverage of the Men's Hockey Group A encounter between India and Australia at Tokyo 2020
Can India tame GB in Tokyo? (Source: Hockey India)
The moment of reckoning is here - a match against World No 1 hockey team Australia.
The second of the back-to-back games which, apparently, was important enough to have influenced the selections in "hot and humid" Tokyo.
After getting over the line against New Zealand 3-2 in less than sublime fashion, Manpreet and co face the mighty Australians - who themselves made heavy weather of their against hosts Japan (the lowest-ranked team in the competition) winning 5-3 in the end.
Can a young Indian side raise their game against one of the best teams in world hockey?
The numbers favour Australia who have won a whopping 85 games out of 128 played overall, but history takes a back seat today as Graham Reid's team are known to have humbled the best on their day - be it Australia, Belgium, or the Netherlands.
So, do not miss the action as the hockey superpowers clash one more time to create yet another memorable encounter - one, that hopefully will be remembered by Indian hockey fans for a long time to come.
India and Australia have faced each other 10 times at the Olympic Games with the Aussies coming out victorious 5 times while the Indians won 3.
Who will emerge as the winner today - or will both teams split points?
The match begins at 1500 IST
Stay tuned with us.
Thank you for joining us during our LIVE updates. We will be back with the updates when the Indian women take on Germany on Monday, July 26 at 1745 IST.
Blake Govers, Lachlan Sharp, and Flynn Ogilvie were outstanding for the Kookaburras while Tim Brand's narrow-angle shot is one that will not be forgotten in a hurry. Despite the pandemic-induced break, the Aussies are serious medal contenders. The Indians have a day to recuperate and will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Spain in a must-win encounter.
Not for nothing is it said that the Olympics are a different ball game altogether and all previous results do not count. The Aussies making a mockery of many a prediction based on their performances against India at the Champions Trophy and Hockey Pro League. On the biggest stage of all, Colin Batch's boys show the world who's boss. Can the Indians pick themselves up after the utterly forgetful walloping??
The Indians manage to steal possession after the Aussies were happy to keep possession - doesn't count for much though as the clock ticks down on what has been a dark evening for India
24 CIRCLE ENTRIES FOR THE AUSSIES - 22 (INCREDIBLY FOR INDIA) WHICH THE MEN IN BLUE HAVENT MADE USE OF
Srejesh denies Sharp - it's been a nightmarish evening for the Indian goalie but he keeps one out all the same
The Indians have a bit of the ball at long last - Mandeep fails to trap a cross in the circle - the Aussies nearly have an eighth!!!
The Indians holed up in pockets while TIMOTHY BRAND SCORES FROM A NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE ANGLE!!
INDIA 1 - AUSTRALIA 7
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