Naveen Congratulates Team India on Winning FIH Pro League Match

Bhubaneswar (Reporters Today Bureau): After Indian Men’s Hockey Team defeated Argentina in FIH Pro League match held at Kalinga Stadium here yesterday, Chief Minister of the host state Naveen Patnaik congratulated the team on its victory. Naveen took to Twitter and wrote, “May the team continue to make the nation proud.” Forward Mandeep Singh’s opportunistic goal in the last minute helped India prevail over Rio Olympics gold medallist Argentina 4-3 and move to the top of the table in the FIH Hockey Pro League.

It was an up-and-down performance by the Indians as they failed to hold on to a 2-0 half-half lead, allowing Argentina to twice come back from a goal deficit to level score 3-3 with four minutes to go. Mandeep settled the issue in favour of the hosts as he got a feather touch to a superb long-range shot by Jugraj Singh to make it 4-3. The win means India now moved to 16 points from eight matches and overtook the Netherlands, though they have played two matches more.

Jugraj Singh struck a brace (20th and 52nd min) and Hardik Singh (17th min) had given India the lead twice but Argentina came back to score through Nicolas della Torre (40), Tomas Domene (51st min) and Martin Ferreiro (56th min). Mandeep, however, struck in the last minute for the second successive match to seal victory for India. Very much like the first match of the double-header on Saturday, the opening quarter was a slow burn. Both teams probed each other’s defence but there was no significant goalmouth action.

Nicolas Keenan for Argentina showed a willingness to attack up the Argentina left-hand side of the pitch but on the whole, there was very little created by either team. India won the first penalty corner of the game in the second minute of the second quarter, but Tomas Santiago saved Varun Kumar’s attempt. However, Hardik Singh was on hand to volley the ball home to give his side the lead (1-0).