Hockey World Cup 2023: The Indian national hockey team played out a goalless draw against England in an entertaining pool match on Sunday, keeping both teams in contention for a direct quarterfinal berth in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. Despite getting ample chances to score, neither team was able to find the back of the net at the jam-packed Birsa Munda Stadium.
England had eight penalty corners to India’s four, but the home team’s penalty corners defense was impeccable. Both teams are now on four points each from two matches, and the top of the pool and direct quarterfinal qualification will be decided on January 19th when India plays Wales and England takes on Spain, both matches to be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Hockey World Cup 2023 : India’ s Campaign off to a great start
India’s Mens Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign got off to a winning start when they beat Spain 2-0 at the newly built Birsa Munda stadium in Rourkela on Friday. This is the second consecutive time India, and specifically Odisha, is hosting the Hockey World Cup. The team is placed in Pool D with Spain, England, and Wales, and the format of the tournament is such that the first-placed team goes straight to the quarterfinals while the second and third-placed teams compete in a crossover round against the third and second-placed teams from Pool C.
In the match against Spain, India scored the opening goal through local player and vice-captain Amit Rohidas in the 12th minute off a penalty corner. The goal was also a landmark 200th World Cup goal for India, who only have one World Cup title to boast of, Malaysia 1975. India’s second goal came in the second quarter when a speedy Hardik Singh made a quick move down the left, taking a couple of Spanish defenders in his stride before tapping in to double the lead.
