The Indian Men’s Hockey Team delivered a commanding performance against Pakistan, securing a 7-1 victory in the reverse fixture of the FIH Pro League London leg. The match took place at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Friday, June 26, 2026. Despite falling behind early in the first quarter, India responded with a series of goals to clinch all three points.
Sukhjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, Raj Kumar Pal, and Dilpreet Singh were the goal-scorers for India. Midfielder Hardik Singh was recognized as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his significant contribution and control in the midfield throughout the game.
Early Setback and Indian Response
The match began with high intensity from both teams. India earned an early penalty corner within the first 90 seconds, initiated by a quick baseline run from Mandeep Singh. However, Pakistan’s counter-attacks led to them winning a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Following an unsuccessful video referral by India, Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood converted the drag-flick, giving his team a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
India quickly took control in the second quarter, utilizing precise long passes to stretch Pakistan’s defence. A setback for Pakistan occurred in the 18th minute when a deflected pass from Ali Ghazanfar accidentally struck teammate Ahmad Nadeem, forcing him to leave the field.
India capitalized on this momentum. A minute later, India earned a penalty corner, and captain Harmanpreet’s powerful drag-flick was expertly deflected into the net by Sukhjeet in the 20th minute, leveling the score at 1-1. In the 26th minute, Harmanpreet scored directly from another penalty corner, giving India a 2-1 lead going into halftime.
Second Half Dominance
The ‘Men in Blue’ extended their dominance in the second half. In the 34th minute, India earned consecutive penalty corners, with the second resulting in a penalty stroke. Hardik calmly converted this opportunity, making the score 3-1. Pakistan attempted to respond by winning two penalty corners, but the Indian defence successfully blocked both attempts.
After blocking Pakistan’s second penalty corner, India launched a rapid counter-attack. Dilpreet combined effectively with Sukhjeet before setting up Jugraj, who scored in the 35th minute, increasing India’s lead to 4-1. India’s relentless attack continued as Sukhjeet created another opening in the 41st minute, passing to Abhishek, who scored on the run to make it 5-1.
Towards the end of the third quarter, India secured four consecutive penalty corners. On the fourth attempt, Raj Kumar Pal reacted quickly to guide the rebound from Harmanpreet’s drag-flick into the open goal, further extending the lead to 6-1. India maintained defensive discipline in the final quarter while continuing to seek further scoring opportunities.
Concluding Stages
In the 54th minute, Dilpreet concluded a well-executed move by scoring India’s seventh goal of the match. Pakistan earned back-to-back penalty corners in the closing minutes of the game, but veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh stood firm, blocking both attempts and securing India’s comprehensive 7-1 victory.
The match concluded with India registering an emphatic win, showcasing a strong offensive display and solid defensive play. The final score of 7-1 reflects India’s dominant performance in the FIH Pro League reverse fixture.
Source: hockeyindia.org
