The Indian men’s hockey team earned a significant victory against France, winning 5-4 in the fourth and final match of the five-nation tournament. Jugraj Singh (20′, 60′) and Harmanpreet Singh (25′, 56′) each scored a brace in the match that went back and forth throughout its duration, while Vivek Sagar Prasad (16′) provided one goal for India. Despite a largely disappointing performance in the tournament, with losses in the previous three matches against Spain, Belgium, and Germany, India finished on a high note with this victory.
France, ranked ninth, took the lead with a penalty corner conversion from Lucas Montecot (11’), but India leveled the score early in the second quarter with Vivek’s field goal. Four minutes later, India took a 2-1 lead as Jugraj cleverly converted a penalty corner. India’s captain Harmanpreet then gave his side a two-goal advantage through another penalty corner.
France was shortly awarded a penalty stroke and Etienne Tynevez (28′) made full use of it to reduce the goal deficit to one (2-3). However, the score read 3-2 in favor of India at halftime. France tied the game late in the third quarter on a field goal by Gaspard Baumgarten (43′). With the score 3-3, both sides attempted to break past each other’s defense in the fourth quarter.
France regained the lead through another penalty corner conversion by Etienne Tynevez (53′), but their pleasure was short-lived as Harmanpreet added his second goal to make it 4-4. Jugraj scored his second goal of the day through yet another penalty corner as India won 5-4 and finished the Hockey Five-Nations Tournament 2023 on a good note. While this victory restores some pride for India, the tournament’s overall outcome remains challenging, with the squad striving for better results in future competitions.
Earlier on Tuesday, India’s Vice-Captain Hardik Singh was crowned the FIH Player of the Year for 2023. Upon receiving the prestigious FIH Award the stellar midfielder expressed his gratitude, saying, it’s an absolute honor to receive this esteemed award. I am immensely grateful to my teammates, Coaches, and supporters who have been the pillars of my success.
This recognition fuels my determination to continue giving my best to the sport I love. The journey to this award has been filled with challenges and learning experiences. It’s a reminder that hard work, perseverance, and a supportive team can pave the way for remarkable achievements, Hardik expressed.
