India, Aug. 15 -- India made a winning start to their FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026 campaign as captain Harmanpreet Singh struck twice in a 3-1 victory over Wales at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. Sanjay Rana opened the scoring before Harmanpreet converted two penalty corners as India's set-piece strength proved decisive in their Pool D opener. Sam Welsh scored a late consolation for Wales, denying India a clean sheet but doing little to threaten a result that had largely been settled by the end of the third quarter.

Playing on India's Independence Day and beginning another attempt to end a 51-year wait for a second World Cup title, Craig Fulton's team wasted little time in establishing control. Wales actually produced the first da...