Tokyo Olympics: Harmanpreet Singh scores brace as India edges past New Zealand 3-2 hockey opener

India was involved in an intense hockey clash in its opening game of the Tokyo Olympics, as it faced off against New Zealand. Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace, as it helped India register a 3-2 win over the Kiwis.

It was in the sixth minute when New Zealand scored the opening goal through Kane Russell. Mandeep Singh, who then turned out to be a force on the turf, holding the play and helping the side gain a penalty corner in the tenth minute, eventually resulted in a penalty stroke, as Rupinder Pal Singh successfully converted it. The Kiwis earned four successive penalty corners, but all went pegging while ten minutes into the second quarter, Harmanpreet handed India the lead.

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The second half saw Harmanpreet doubled India's lead after just three minutes into the third quarter, as he successfully converted a penalty corner. Although India earned another corner, it was saved by the defence, while it was in the 43rd minute when Stephen Jenness pulled one back for NZ.

Three minutes before full-time, it was an all-out attack from the Kiwis, but Sreejesh stood like a brick wall, even saving a corner to hand India the opening win. It would now face off against Australia on Sunday.

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