Rio de Janeiro (6 August, 2016): Eight-time Olympic champions India got off to an explosive start in the 2016 Rio Olympics by defeating Ireland 3-2 at the Deodoro Olympic Park on Saturday.
Forward VR Raghunath gave the World No 5 side a thundering start in this Group B match by converting India’s fourth penalty corner in the 15th minute and Rupinder Pal Singh made it 2-0 in similar fashion three minutes before the end of the second quarter.
The Green Machines, however, clawed back in the last minute of the third quarter with a goal from John Jermyn, but their celebrations went dead as Rupinder scored again with another stunning penalty corner strike in the 48th minute to give India the much needed boost.
Ireland, returning to the Olympics hockey competition after a lapse of 108 years, but have never been tough team to crack, reduced the deficit 2-3 courtesy of Conor Harte’s goal in the 55th minute from Ireland’s seventh penalty corner.
But it was never going to be any easier after this for Roelant Oltmans’ men as they threw everything they had in their trick bag to stave off a magnificent comeback challenge from the Irish who went firing on all cylinders in the remining minutes of the match to register this win despite showing frailties in their defensive wall.
“We were eager to begin our campaign in Rio on a winning note and carry this momentum forward in the following group stage matches,” said Oltmans. The Dutchman had also guided India to silver medals in the Champions Trophy in London in June recently and at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia three months ago.
“We have never underestimated any team especially at an event like the Olympics where every team wants to win. It was a good start against Ireland in a great event,” added Oltmans.
India also ended a 12-year jinx as they have never won their opening match in an Olympic competition since Sydney 2000. Despite being the most successful and decorated team in the hockey world having won eight gold medals, the Indians have not stepped on the podium since their gold-medal feat 36 years ago in Moscow.
They have been disappointing in recent years having failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games and adding to that misery were also unimpressive in Athens (2004) and finished eighth at the 2012 London Olympics. Drawn alongside Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina and Canada in Group B, the India will next play reigning Olympic champions and World No 3 Germany on Monday who will not be as forgiving as the Irish.
In other Group B encounters, Germany, gold medallists at the 2008 amd 2012 Summer Olympics, dug out of the hole just when things have not been going well for them in recent months by pulverising Canada 6-2 with brace from veteran campaigner Moritz Furste (2nd, 32nd), Niklas Wellen (5th, 45th) while Mathias Muller (13th) and Linus Butt (25th) added to the Canadian misery.
Canada’s Red Caribous have long been a major force in Pan American hockey but have never been able to sustain in high pressure matches despite all the experience of having competed in six Olympic Games, five Hockey World Cups and five Commonwealth Games to date, scored through Mark Pearson (10th) and Keegan Pereira in the third quarter.
The Netherlands – current European champions and Olympic gold medallists from 1996 and 2000 – held 2015 Pan American Games winners Argentina to a 3-3 draw.
World Champion Australia, ranked World No 1 by the FIH, edged New Zealand 2-1 in a Group A encounter. Chris Ciriello (7th) and Matt Gohdes (22nd) gave the Kookaburras a 2-0 lead before Hugo Inglis replied for the Black Sticks late in the second quarter.
Belgium also made a grand entrance in the Rio Olympics by pounding Great Britain 4-1 with goals from Jerome Truyens (5th), Tanguy Cosyns (32nd), Simon Gougnard (34th) and Cedric Charlier (55th). The Britons replied through Nickolas Catlin (27th).
Spain may have dropped down the FIH Hero World Rankings in recent years and are currently ranked No 11 but the Spaniard remain a gifted team that should not be underestimated. They proved their mettle with a scintillating display of attacking hockey en route to a 7-0 drubbing of hosts Brazil on Saturday’s opening Group A match.
In the only women’s Group B competition which was filled with major upsets on Saturday saw the United States turned the tables on World No 2 Argentina with a 2-1 win while London Olympics bronze medallist and World No 7 Great Britain scored a convincing 2-1 win over World No 3 Australia, rated one of the greatest team on this planet.
India’s men’s team plutonic performance against the Irish should serve as an inspiration to Korea, Japan, China and India – the four Asian teams who go into action on Sunday.
Double Olympic silver medallist Korea goes into an enthralling Group A encounter with New Zealand who missed out on a bronze medal in London 2012 by finishing fourth while 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medallist and World No 6 China faceoff with Germany.
India women’s team, who qualified for the Olympics after 36 years, open their campaign against No 10-ranked Japan in Group B. The Indians are ranked 13 in the world.Time to Samba Asia!
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