New Delhi: India’s men’s hockey team began their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with an assured 3-1 victory over Wales in their opening Pool D encounter on Saturday.
The match was held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Wales started brightly and earned a couple of promising circle entries in the early minutes, but goalkeeper Suraj Karkera was alert to the threat and dealt with it comfortably. India gradually settled into their rhythm, and their first real opportunity came in the seventh minute, when a penalty corner was won after Dilpreet Singh created an opening inside the circle.
India took the lead in the eighth minute through Sanjay, though not without a slice of fortune. His initial drag-flick was blocked by Wales’ first rusher, but the ball deflected off his foot, forcing a retake. Sanjay made no mistake the second time around, finding a gap past a wrong-footed Welsh goalkeeper, Toby Reynolds-Cotterill, as the ball trickled through his legs and into the net.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh doubled India’s advantage in the 11th minute, converting his side’s second penalty corner of the match with a precise flick after Sanjay was fouled inside the circle. India continued to press for a third goal before the break, winning another penalty corner in the 13th minute, but Wales managed to hold firm, and the two sides went into the first quarter break with India leading 2-0.
India carried their dominance in possession and territory into the second quarter, creating further half-chances through Manpreet Singh and Nilakanta Sharma. Wales threatened briefly on the counter-attack in the 19th minute, when Jack Pritchard latched onto a long ball and found space inside India’s circle, only for goalkeeper Mohith HS to rush off his line and force the effort wide.
Despite further opportunities through Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Rajinder Singh, neither side could find the net again before half-time, and India went into the break with their two-goal cushion intact.
Wales tried to assert themselves at the start of the third quarter, but India’s defence remained composed and continued to stretch the Welsh structure by working the ball efficiently down the flanks. The pressure told in the 43rd minute, when India won another penalty corner and Harmanpreet stepped up once more, sending a rocket-speed grounded flick past the Welsh goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
India kept creating chances in the final quarter, with Shilanand Lakra coming close in the 53rd minute after attempting to lift the ball over the goalkeeper from close range. Wales earned a penalty corner of their own in the 54th minute, but Mohith produced a fine save to keep his side’s lead intact.
Wales did eventually find a way back into the contest in the 56th minute, amid a goalmouth scramble. The goal was initially checked by the video umpire for a possible backstick offence on the line and a penalty stroke, but the review confirmed the ball had crossed the line before any infringement occurred, and the goal was awarded to Sam Welsh, narrowing the deficit to 3-1.
India remained composed through the closing stages and saw out the remainder of the match to secure a 3-1 win, opening their World Cup campaign with a valuable three points on the board.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Harmanpreet said the team had made a strong start, expressing satisfaction that a young player like Sanjay had opened the scoring. He added that the squad was fully aware of the significance of the tournament and remained focused on winning it, while noting that India would look to create more chances and convert more field goals in the matches ahead.
India will next take on England in their second Pool D fixture on August 17 at the same venue in Amstelveen.
