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The Indian men’s hockey team is off to a winning start at the Paris 2024 Olympics as they beat the World No. 10 ranked New Zealand team in their opening game with a scoreline of 3-2.
Fans seemed ecstatic with India's impressive victory and they expressed their reactions on social media platform, X. Here are some of them:
“India wonnnnnnnn. What a thriller it was,” one fan wrote.
Another fan described the win as a ‘stellar start’ for the national team, writing:
“Thrilling victory for India over New Zealand in a nail-biting match. The Indian team's grit and determination shone through. Stellar start, team!”
Another Indian men's hockey fan wrote:
“And we have done it. Trailed in the first quarter but a fabulous comeback to win the opening game.”
One fan took the chance to heap praise on captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored the final penalty goal to snatch the match away for India.
“Harmanpreet You Beauty,” the fan wrote.
Harmanpreet's heroics secure a win for the Indian men’s hockey team against New Zealand
The Indian men’s hockey team started the match in the worst way imaginable, conceding an early goal scored by Sam Lane. The goal came from a penalty corner kick with just eight minutes on the clock in the first quarter.
India did not lose their heads after conceding the early goal and matched the New Zealand attack with some stellar performances from the defenders. The team fought back with an equalizer from Mandeep Singh in the 10th minute of the second quarter.
India took the lead for the first time in the fourth minute of the third quarter after Vivek Prasad took advantage of an error by the New Zealand goalkeeper. However, New Zealand equalized in the ninth minute of the fourth quarter with a goal from Simon Child.
As the match seemed to head towards a stalemate, the Indian men’s hockey team captain, Harmanpreet Singh, showed his merits by scoring a goal from a penalty stroke in the 14th minute of the final quarter.
With that goal, the Indian men’s hockey team has made a dream start to their Paris 2024 Olympics hockey campaign. The Men in Blue will face Argentina in their next match on July 29 at 4:15 pm IST.
