(Hockey News) In the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League action in London, Sam Ward of Great Britain showcased a remarkable performance by scoring four goals. However, despite his efforts, his team couldn’t avoid defeat against India’s men. The match concluded with a thrilling 4-4 draw in regulation time, leading to a shoot-out. Ultimately, India emerged victorious, securing a 4-2 win in the shoot-out. Later in the day, the Belgian women maintained their unbeaten streak in the mini-tournament with a comfortable 3-1 triumph over China. China, once again, displayed a stronger performance in the second half.

The men’s match between Great Britain and India ended in an exciting 4-4 draw, followed by a shoot-out that concluded with India winning 4-2.

The team playing at home generated numerous opportunities in the early stages, putting Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak under pressure, resulting in several outstanding saves. India had their first genuine chance from a penalty corner, and their captain Harmanpreet Singh capitalized on it by skillfully placing the ball into the left corner, securing the lead.

Great Britain responded with great speed, earning a penalty corner just 25 seconds later. Sam Ward’s powerful drag flick took a slight deflection off the edge of Amit Rohidas’s stick, resulting in the equalizing goal.

However, the Indian team countered with two impressive field goals before half-time. The first was a powerful strike from Mandeep Singh, marking his 99th career goal, while the next goal came from Sukhjeet Singh’s reserve stick strike.

With slightly over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Sam Ward ensured that Great Britain stayed in the game by scoring his 100th international goal. This time, Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak couldn’t make enough contact with Ward’s strike from the penalty corner.

The final quarter was filled with excitement as Sam Ward achieved a hat-trick with a field goal, equalizing the score for Great Britain at 3-3. However, India managed to regain the lead five minutes later with a combination play involving Dilpreet Singh, Vivek Prasad, and Abishek, putting their team ahead. Yet, another remarkable strike from Ward, resulting in his first-ever four-goal performance in a Great Britain jersey, leveled the match and led to a shoot-out. Unfortunately, Rupert Shipperley and Phil Roper missed their chances, while the Indian team successfully converted all of theirs, securing a 4-2 victory.

Vivek Prasad, who was awarded the player of the match, expressed his thoughts by stating, “The team put in a tremendous effort. It was a well-played game by all the players. Our victory here is a result of strong teamwork, considering that Great Britain is a formidable opponent… I have faith in my abilities and I’m not concerned about physical attributes such as height or strength. Instead, I believe in my skills and focus on what I do best.”

In the women’s match between China and Belgium, Belgium secured a 3-1 victory

Belgium gained the upper hand in the first quarter as Charlotte Engelbert skillfully dinked the ball into the circle on the reverse, allowing Justine Rasir to fire it into the bottom left corner. The Belgians extended their lead in the second quarter when Barbara Nelen drove the ball into the circle, leading to a well-taken strike by Emily White.

Despite maintaining a 2-0 advantage at halftime, Belgium understood the importance of not underestimating their opponents, considering China’s previous comeback from a 3-1 deficit against Great Britain the day before.

However, the Chinese team couldn’t orchestrate a significant comeback. Belgian goalkeeper Elodie Picard was only tested towards the end of the third quarter when Zou Meirong took a shot, but Picard effectively kept it out of the goal.

China displayed a much stronger performance in the final quarter, gradually regaining their momentum. They successfully recycled the ball from a penalty corner variation, allowing Liu Chencheng to drill it in and reduce the deficit to half.

Following the goal, China took a risk by removing their goalkeeper to gain an extra field player and push for an equalizer. However, their strategy backfired when they conceded a penalty corner shortly after, and none of the defenders could prevent Stephanie Vanden Borre from executing a powerful drag into the top of the goal, sealing the 3-1 victory for Belgium.

Vanden Borre, who was awarded the player of the match, expressed her delight by stating, “We are extremely thrilled with the three points. It was our objective, and we achieved it. The final goal provided a sense of relief from the pressure they were exerting on us towards the end. Considering their performance yesterday, we anticipated their strong push in the second half, and we were prepared for it. We can be content with the three points we have secured.”

Result: Men’s Match 41

Great Britain 4-4 India (SO: 2-4)

Player of the Game: Vivek Prasad (IND)

Umpires: Hong-Zhen Lim (SGP), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)

Result: Women’s Match 41

China 1-3 Belgium

Player of the Game: Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL)

Umpires: Ayanna McClean (TTO), Sean Rapaport (RSA), Hong-Zhen Lim (SGP-video)

Also Read: Women’s Jr Asia Cup Hockey: India register hard-fought 2-1 victory over Malaysia