Preview: India are expected to face an uphill battle playing in front of the hockey crazy Odisha crowd that will turn up in large numbers to watch the 2018 FIH World Cup starting on Wednesday. Despite being the most successful team in Olympic hockey with eight golds, India have won the World Cup only once, way back in 1975. Despite playing at home, it will be sort of miracle if World No.5 India managed to break this long barren run this time round. Under current coach Harendra Singh, the Indian team has shown a lot of promise. Since taking over from previous incumbent, Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne in May this year, Harendra has guided the team to silver at the Champions Trophy, a bronze at the Asian Games and the Asian Champions Trophy title. Before that, India had finished fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games under Marijne’s watch. This World Cup will feature a total of 4 pools with four teams each. The pool toppers will get a direct entry into the quarterfinals while the 2nd and 3rd placed will have to go through play-offs to enter the last eight stage. India have been placed in Pool C along with strong title contenders Belgium and minnows South Africa and Canada. Pool A contains Argentina, Spain, France and New Zealand. The hosts will start their campaign against South Africa on the opening day while Belgium will play Canada the same day. Overwhelming favourites and defending champions Australia are in Pool B along with Ireland, England and China. Pool D is expected to throw up several mouth watering matches since it includes formidable Germany, another strong contender Holland, four-time winners Pakistan and Malaysia. Australia, who have won the last two editions, will be chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title. If the boys from Down Under are successful in their quest, they will win their fourth title and become the joint most successful nation in the tournament along with Pakistan. The fact that Pakistan have managed to reach India is something of a triumph for the cash strapped team. Their participation was in doubt till the last moment due to lack of funds. It was only the signing of a major sponsorship deal with Haier Pakistan that enabled their participation. With inputs from IANS
Hockey World Cup 2018, India vs South Africa, Highlights: Manpreet Singh and Co start campaign with comfortable win
Catch the Live score and updates from the Hockey World Cup 2018 Pool C match between India and South Africa
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So that’s all we have for now. Harendra Singh would be happy with his team’s performance, but he knows that the bigger challenge awaits his team in the next match. South Africa are ranked 10 spots below India and they did not put up a great fight today. They will have plenty to discuss. Belgium are a tough side and Manpreet Singh’s team will have their task cut out on Sunday.
Thank you for joining with us today and hope you have a good week.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Simranjeet Singh is Man of the Match for his brace. Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh too had a good game, both impressing with their runs from the flanks. India will go home satisfied. They have three days to recover before the big one against Olympic silver-medallists Belgium. That promises to be a cracker!
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Simranjeet Singh scored two goals tonight and he gets the Man of the Match award for his good performance.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Not perfect, but a very good performance by India. They looked a tad rusty in the first quarter where gaps in trapping showed up. One can attribute that to early nerves though. But once they got one on the board, Manpreet’s boys were unstoppable.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
It’s all over! A superb win for India, thanks to goals from Simranjeet, Mandeep, Akashdeep and Lalit. Their World campaign is off to a great start. Next up for them is Belgium.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Four minutes left in the match. Indian players are trying hard to score more goals. This has been a great start to their World Cup campaign.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa are trying desperately to score their first goal of the match. Indian defenders, though, are doing good work in thwarting away the attacks.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Mandeep from the left, he crosses it to Chinglansana in the centre. The rasping hit goes just wide, but here’s the PC again. Harmanpreet with his booming hit, but it is palmed away by the goalie. India applying serious pressure.
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
PC to India, and India make it 5-0. That was some variation in the D. Harmanpreet to Varun to Simranjeet to net!!
INDIA 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA
GOAAAAL! Simranjeet scores his second goal of the evening. A messed up penalty corner but Simranjeet positioned himself at the right place to score India’s fifth goal.
INDIA 4-0 SOUTH AFRICA
India end the quarter on a high. To be sure, SA had their moments, but India held their nerve. They didn’t relent under pressure, and launched the offensive on last minutes of the Quarter.
INDIA 4-0 SOUTH AFRICA
GOAAAAL! No. 4 for India!! That came out of nowhere. Akashdeep charges from the left flank and sends the ball in South Africa’s D, where Lalit does the rest.
INDIA 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Mandeep on the move… there’s the cross, and there’s the tap-in. Goal no. 3. Simranjeet the scorer there.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Commendable pressing in this Quarter so far by the visitors. They were constantly in India’s half, at times parking themselves in the D. Penalty corner comes along, but they fail to convert.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Penalty corner for India, but a wasted chance from the drag-flickers. They couldn’t control the ball from Manpreet Singh.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
The third quarter is underway at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The legend is here!
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
India comfortably placed at the end of Q2, but this really should have been 4-0 or 5-0. South Africa saved a penalty corner, and then Lalit’s cross in the D found no takers. Later, Nilkanta Sharma gets a good pass from Sumit after some fine dribble work, but hits wide.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
End of the second quarter. No goals in the period, but India did enjoy a few good chances. South Africa need to find a way to put more pressure on India.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Lovely play from India, but Nilkanta’s finish is not up to the mark. India trying hard for the third goal.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa applying some pressure now. Two circle entries, but defence stands tall. Lalit sends the ball in the D, but there’s no one to trap.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Second quarter has not been as exciting as first, but India are dominating the game. One more goal from India and South Africa’s comeback will become extremely difficult.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Penalty corner for India. Nicely taken, but South Africa’s defence blocks the shot and clears the ball away from danger.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
This has clearly been India’s quarter. Ball possession and circle entries easily outnumber those of visitors. Can they sustain it in Q2?
No surprises so far!
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
The second quarter is underway.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
End of the first quarter! India dominated the proceedings and they lead by two goals thanks to strikes from Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh.
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Ten minutes into the game and India lead 1-0. Dominating hockey so far. And guess what, Akashdeep scores now! India lead 2-0
INDIA 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Terrific start from India! Akashdeep Singh scores as India double their lead in the first quarter.
INDIA 1-0 SOUTH AFRICA
GOAAAL! Mandeep Singh gives India the lead. Harmanpreet Singh’s penalty corner is saved but Mandeep makes no mistake from the rebound.
INDIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
India on the move. They have made some telling circle entries already, but failed to convert either of them. That last miss by Dilpreet should have been slotted in. Nerves?
INDIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
What a chance for Lalit, who dribbles past a South African player, but couldn’t come up with a good finish.
INDIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Another cross, this time a long diagonal on from Manpreet, and Mandeep misses deflection. He just had the goalkeeper to beat!
INDIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Match time, and Akashdeep misses a tough tap-in. Can’t blame him though, that was on awkward height.
INDIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
The national anthems are done and the match is underway at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Here’s India’s team sheet!
Phew!
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