Naveen Congratulates Team India on Starting HWC 2023 Campaign with Winning Note

Rourkela: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Team India on starting their Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign with a winning note against Spain at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.

“Congratulate Team India on starting their HWC 2023 campaign with a winning note against Spain at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela. Amazed to witness such outpouring of support for our team and passion for the game. Wish the team all the very best”, the CM tweeted.

Congratulate Team India on starting their #HWC2023 campaign with a winning note against Spain at #BirsaMundaStadium in #Rourkela. Amazed to witness such outpouring of support for our team and passion for the game. Wish the team all the very best. #HockeyComesHome pic.twitter.com/IWYtGM57bw

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 13, 2023

Team India began their FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Spain 2-0 in their opening Pool D match of the tournament at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, here on Friday.

Amit Rohidas (13′) scored India’s opener in the first quarter while Hardik Singh (27′) netted India’s second goal. The win takes India up to the second place in Pool D standings behind England, who beat Wales 5-0 in the other Pool fixture earlier in the day.

Both teams started the match on equal footing and the first 10 minutes ebbed and flowed with the two teams dominating phases of the game. However the final few minutes of the first quarter saw India take control and capitalise with an all-important first goal.
After captain Harmanpreet Singh’s shot was blocked by the Spain defence, Amit Rohidas latched onto the loose ball and drove his shot past a helpless Adrian Rafi in the Spanish goal to score India’s first goal of the Hockey World Cup 2023.

It was also India’s 200th goal in the tournament. Only Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan have scored more.

Hardik Singh broke in pace and showed some stunning three dimensional skills to weave past four defenders. His attempt at goal from a tight angle took a deflection off a Spanish defender and rippled the net. India took a 2-0 advantage into the half-time break.