Olympics 2024: Indian men's hockey team start with a win against New Zealand

The Indian hockey team pulled off a last minute goal to salvage a win against New Zealand at the Paris Olympics. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a decisive goal in the final minutes to secure a dramatic 3-2 win.

The match, which captivated fans from the outset, saw both teams showcase high levels of skill and intensity.

India faced a challenging start as they struggled with New Zealand’s persistent attacks and a barrage of penalty corners awarded to their opponents.

New Zealand’s Sam Lane broke the deadlock, putting his team ahead with a well-executed goal.

However, India quickly responded with equal fervor. Mandeep Singh levelled the score with a brilliant strike, bringing hope to the Indian side.

Vivek Sagar Prasad then put India in the lead, but the advantage was short-lived. Simon Child of New Zealand found the back of the net to bring the score back to 2-2, intensifying the contest.

With the clock ticking down, the game reached a fever pitch. In a crucial moment, Harmanpreet Singh stepped up and converted a penalty stroke in the 59th minute, sealing the victory for India.

His crucial goal ensured that India would start their Olympic campaign with a hard-fought and memorable win.

India will play Argentina next on Monday, 29th July.