FIH Pro League: India, Led By Odisha’s Rohidas, Conquer England At Kalinga Stadium

Bhubaneswar: The Indian hockey team continued its great march in the FIH Pro League with back-to-back wins against England, thus vaulting to the top of the 9-team standings with 21 points from 10 games.

Captained by Odisha’s Amit Rohidas, the men in blue beat England 4-3 at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday evening in a match which saw all seven goals being scored off penalty corners. On Saturday, the home team had prevailed 3-2 in a shootout after India and England were locked at 3-3 after regulation time.

In the return game, Sanford Liam gave England an early lead in the sixth minute, but India hit back with vengeance.

The experienced duo of Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh sounded the boards twice each. England did reduce the margin twice, but their forwards were kept at bay by Rohidas & Co. in the final quarter as India held on to the 4-3 advantage they enjoyed at the end of third quarter.

Harmanpreet reached a memorable milestone today by scoring his 100th international goal.

India will take on second-placed Germany at home on April 14 and 15, before facing Belgium and The Netherlands in their backyard.

Among those in attendance at Kalinga Stadium this evening was British Deputy High Commissioner Nick Low.

He thanked Odisha Sports for inviting him to the India-England match.

“Many thanks to @sports_odisha for making me so welcome at #KalingaStadium for tonight’s @FIH_Hockey #FIHProLeague match between @TheHockeyIndia and @EnglandHockey. It’s quite something to be on the pitch for the playing of the national anthems,” Low tweeted along with pictures.