Perth, May 8
The Indian men’s hockey team defeated WA Thundersticks 2-0 to start its Australia tour on a positive note here today. Goals from Birendra Lakra (23rd minute) and Harmanpreet Singh (50th) secured the win for the visitors.
Debutant Jaskaran Singh got the first real chance for India in the fifth minute but failed to keep his shot on target. Akashdeep Singh had a shot on goal towards the end of the first quarter, but Thundersticks’ goalkeeper Ben Rennie made a fine save.
India started dominating proceedings in the second quarter, with captain Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh both denied by Rennie. But patience finally paid off as India took the lead through a field goal by Lakra. India got their second goal through a penalty corner conversion by Harmanpreet 10 minutes from time. Three minutes from the final hooter, the home side earned back-to-back penalty corners but India defended stoutly.
India will play against Australia A on May 10, before taking on the Australian team on May 15 and May 17. — PTI
Result: India (Birendra Lakra 23’, Harmanpreet Singh 50’) beat WA Thundersticks 2-0
Hockey event to stay in Fani-hit Bhubaneswar
New Delhi: The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has suffered minor damage due to Cyclone Fani but that would not come in the way of conducting the Hockey Series Finals scheduled to be held in the city next month, Hockey India asserted today. Rejecting speculation that the June 6-15 tournament might be shifted out of Odisha to either Lucknow or Raipur, a top Hockey India official said no such decision has been taken and the national body is committed to host the event in Bhubaneswar. “I don’t know from where these reports come but we absolutely had no discussions with the Odisha Government about shifting the venue,” a top HI official told PTI. “We are in touch with the state government officials and we have been informed that the extent of damage to the hockey stadium is minimal. Hockey India officials will also travel to Bhubaneswar this week to assess the condition of the turf and take stock of the situation at the official team hotels.” PTI
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2VVxggR
via Today’s News Headlines
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