New Delhi: An emphatic five-star performance for Manpreet Singh-led Indian Men's hockey team helped them crush a depleted Ghana 11-0 in their first group match of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. India showcased exceptional teamwork and fluid gameplay to kickoff their CWG 2022 campaign with a remarkable victory. A total of eight Indian players scored goals vs Ghana. For India, Abhishek, Harmanpreet, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Jugraj Singh, Neelkant Sharma, Varun Kumar and Mandeep Singh scored goals. Star drag-flicker and India's vice-captain Harmanpreet scored a hat-trick of goals. India's second match at CWG 2022 will be against England on 1st August, Tuesday.
Another successful training session 💪
FULL TIME: Indian Men's #Hockey team beat Ghana with utter dominance in their opening group match
Final score: 1️⃣1️⃣- 0️⃣
Great job team! 💪💪💪#Cheer4India#India4CWG2022 pic.twitter.com/Es6GQQzAku
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) July 31, 2022
India were off to a great start as they secured a penalty corner in the opening minute of the match, on which Abhishek scored on a rebound shot. India continued to show offensive and attacking game and this time Harmanpreet doubled India's lead by scoring a goal on the penalty corner. In the first quarter, India out themselves on top of a relatively weak Ghana. Shamsher added more salt to Ghana's wound by scoring another goal to push India's lead to 3-0.
Akashdeep Singh scored a brilliant field goal in the 20th minute of the match. On the 22nd minute of the match, India got a penalty stroke, on which Jugraj Singh scored the 5th goal for India. By the end of the first half, India retained 63 percent of the ball.
After almost five minutes into the third quarter, Harmanpreet scored his second goal. Neelkanta Sharma consolidated India's lead by scoring another goal. After this, Varun Kumar and Jugraj Singh scored on the penalty corner to power India to 9-0. India scored a total of four goals in the third quarter.
Mandeep scored his first and India's 10th goal in the fourth minute of the last quarter. Harmanpreet scored a goal from the penalty corner almost seven minutes before the end of the final quarter. This was his third goal in today's match.