Paris Olympics 2024: India Beat New Zealand 3-2 in Men's Hockey Opener

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh saved his best for the last as he scored the winner from the spot a minute from full time to hand India a 3-2 win against New Zealand in their opening Pool B match of the Paris Olympics on Saturday. Sam Lane (8th minute) and Simon Child (53rd) were the goal scorers for New Zealand, while Mandeep Singh (24th), Vivek Sagar Prasad (34th) and skipper Harmanpreet Singh (59th) struck for India. India started on the offensive with skipper Harmanpreet and Abhsihek pressing hard on the New Zealand defence. New Zealand were initially content to sit back and defend.

But it was New Zealand who stunned India by scoring the first goal of the match through Lane from their first penalty corner.

Stunned by the early goal, India pressed hard and controlled the proceedings for most part of the match.

The Indians utilised both flanks to build their attacks with the Black Sticks contend on sitting back and defending while looking for counters.

Contrary to the scoreline, India's chief coach Craig Fulton might be a little worried about the team's penalty corner conversion rate.

India earned five penalty corners but converted just one, while New Zealand had nine set pieces utilising two of them.

India, though, drew level in the 24th minute through a penalty corner when Mandeep scored from a rebound after Harmanpreet's flick was saved by New Zealand goalkeeper Dominic Dixon.

Couple of minutes after the change of ends, Dixon saved Mandeep's reverse shot from top of the circle after being fed by a precision assist from Harmanpreet.

Vivek scored from a goalmouth melee four minutes into the second half to hand India the lead.

But within two minutes, New Zealand pressed hard on the Indian defence and secured four