drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh Scored four goals to help India demolish South Africa 10-2 and returned from their last defeat in style in Men’s FIH Pro League Hockey at Potchefstroom on Sunday. After a draw in the first quarter, when the scores were tied at 1-1, India completely dominated the remaining three periods, scoring nine goals against hapless South Africa to secure their third win in four matches. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist India, who were dodged by lower-ranked France on Saturday, won their first leg match against South Africa by the same margin.
Harmanpreet scored in the 36th, 52nd, 60th and 60th minutes while Shilanand Lakra (27th and 48th) scored. Surendra Kumar (15th), Mandeep Singh (28th), Sumit (45th) and Shamsher Singh (56th) scored for India.
Daniel Bell (12th) and Conor Beauchamp (53rd) scored for South Africa.
India scored five goals in the fourth quarter, with Harmanpreet contributing two.
India thus ended their South African leg of the FIH Pro League on a high note a day after a 2-5 loss to France.
In the next match, they will face Spain in Bhubaneswar.
India dominated the first quarter with plenty of opposition circle penetration, but it was South Africa who scored the first goal in the 12th minute, with Daniel Bell converting the home team’s second penalty corner.
India, who also got two penalty corners in the first quarter, leveled with Surendra Kumar three minutes later with a fine field effort on the roof of South Africa’s net.
The Manpreet Singh-led side scored two goals in less than two minutes with field strikes from Shilanand Lakra and Mandeep Singh in the second quarter to take a 3-1 lead at the half-time break.
Krishna Bahadur Pathak, who started with the Indian goal in place of veteran PR Sreejesh, got South Africa out of the third penalty corner of the match in the 24th minute.
Pathak again did well, saving a penalty stroke from Jethro Eustice in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
After a few minutes of climbing by South Africa, India bounced back with several dangerous attacks, and Harmanpreet scored in the 36th minute from the visitors’ third penalty corner.
Sumit then scored a field goal with a reverse flick to level 5-1 in the 45th minute and broke South Africa’s back.
India showed no mercy to a disappointed South Africa as they scored five more goals in the final quarter.
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South Africa made a comeback in the 53rd minute with the help of Conor Beauchamp.
But the Indians were not done yet as Shamsher Singh scored a field goal in the 53rd minute before Harmanpreet completed her hat-trick and then scored her fourth goal as the visitors inflicted an embarrassing defeat on the hosts.
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