16 August,2026 09:16 AM IST | Amstelveen (The Netherlands) | PTI
India skipper Harmanpreet Singh (right) celebrates scoring against Wales during their FIH World Cup group-stage encounter on Saturday. Pic/FIH
[popcorn number="Zero" desc="No. of times India have lost to Wales in their last five games across all competitions" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="18" desc="No. of goals scored by India in their last five games against Wales" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="222" desc="No. of goals scored by Harmanpreet Singh in 265 games for India" class="Default"]
India made a winning start to their men's Hockey World Cup campaign on Independence Day, defeating Wales 3-1 in a Pool D match here, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring twice from penalty corners.
"We played very well. It was important to begin with a good win. We won 3-1 and took all three points, which is a great result," said Harmanpreet.
India started slowly as Wales enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the opening minutes, forcing goalkeeper Suraj Karkera into two early saves.
India then responded with a swift counter-attack and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute through Hardik Singh. With Harmanpreet off the field, Sanjay's first attempt was unsuccessful, but India earned another penalty corner after the ball struck the foot of the first rusher.
Sanjay made no mistake with his next attempt, beating the Welsh goalkeeper with a powerful direct flick to put India ahead in the eighth minute.
India earned another penalty corner in the 11th minute and Harmanpreet duly converted it with a powerful drag-flick to double the lead.
The 1975 World Cup winners continued to threaten but could not add to their tally before the interval, taking a 2-0 lead into the break.
The third quarter saw India maintain the tempo and put Wales under sustained pressure. Their efforts led to another penalty corner in the 42nd minute, and Harmanpreet made it count a minute later, unleashing a powerful low flick from the left to make it 3-0.
Wales refused to give up and earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 54th minute. But Gareth Furlong's powerful effort was brilliantly kept out by Mohit.
Wales, however, pulled one back in the 56th minute through Sam Welsh, amid a scramble in front of the Indian goal.
India face a tough opening test in the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup here on Sunday as they take on the Olympic silver medallists China. A winning start for ninth-ranked India against their World No. 2 opponents will go a long way in setting the tone for their campaign in Pool D, which also features England and South Africa. India have spent plenty of time acclimatising to European conditions, training at the Wagener Stadium and playing a practice match against hosts Holland.
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