Hockey World Cup 2026: India ride on Harmanpreet's brace to thrash Wales 3-1 in campaign opener

India launched their FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign on a high, securing a comfortable 3-1 victory against Wales on Saturday at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. The Indian side relied heavily on set-piece efficiency, converting three Penalty Corners to set the tone early. Sanjay broke the deadlock in the opening quarter before captain Harmanpreet Singh took charge, striking twice to effectively put the match out of reach.

Wales, making only their second appearance on the World Cup stage, managed to salvage a moment of pride when Sam Welsh breached the Indian defense late in the fourth quarter. Despite the late consolation goal, India controlled the match throughout. The team will look to build on this momentum when they return to the Amstelveen pitch on Monday, August 17, for a crucial Pool-D showdown against England.

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