Amstelveen, Aug. 15 -- At a time when India is celebrating 80th Independence day celebrations, the Men's Hockey Men's team made a patriotic and confident start to its World Cup campaign, with a 3-1 win--thanks to skipper Harmanpreet Singh's brace--over Wales in their opening Pool D encounter at the Wagener Hockey Stadium on Saturday evening.
India's goals came from Sanjay (8 th minute) and captain Harmanpreet Singh (11th and 43rd), who converted two penalty corners to underline his importance from set pieces.
Sanjay too scored off a penalty corner. Wales pulled one back through Sam Welsh (56'), but India's defensive unit held firm in the closing stages to secure full three points.
Wales started brightly and looked to make an early impres...