Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team defeated Great Britain in a thrilling quarter-final match at the Paris Olympics and advanced into the semi-final
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, Akashdeep, Shamsher Singh were among the goal scorers as India thrashed South Africa by 5-2 in their classification match for the 9-12th position at the ongoing FIH Men's Hockey World Cup at Rourkela.
New Zealand will lock horns with defending champions Belgium on January 24 for a berth in the semifinals for the Hockey World Cup while India will face Japan on January 26 for the 9th-16th position in the tournament.
India played a goalless draw against England to take home one point each in a crucial Pool D, Hockey World Cup match at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday.
When the Indian national hockey teams, both Men's and Women's, were struggling to find a sponsor around 2018, CM Naveen Patnaik had come forward, and opened Odisha's purse, and heart for hockey.