The Indian men’s hockey team secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Ireland in a Pool B match at the Paris Olympics, solidifying their position in the quarterfinals. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led the charge with a brace, scoring in the 13th and 19th minutes.
Despite a few defensive lapses, India dominated the first half, consistently penetrating the Irish circle. Harmanpreet’s first goal came from a penalty stroke awarded after Gurjant intercepted the ball and passed it to Mandeep Singh, who was tackled by Shane O’Donoghue.
In the second quarter, India doubled their lead through a penalty corner converted by Harmanpreet. Ireland had a chance to reduce the deficit with a penalty corner, but India’s goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made a crucial save.
The second half saw Ireland improve their performance, earning eight penalty corners in the third quarter alone. However, India’s defense held firm, preventing Ireland from scoring.
In the final quarter, Ireland continued to press, earning two more penalty corners, but their finishing let them down. India’s victory takes them to seven points from three matches, while Ireland’s defeat eliminates them from the quarterfinal race.
Belgium and Australia, both unbeaten, have six points each and will face off later in the day. Argentina and New Zealand are likely to compete for the fourth spot in Pool B, with the top four teams from each pool qualifying for the quarterfinals.
