Image Credit source: PTI/File Photo
Hockey’s international body FIH has started a 5-5 player match tournament by changing the format of the game to make the game popular again and to reach more and more countries.
The newest experiment of the game has started to make hockey popular again among the people and to take it to more and more parts. The first season of the FIH Hockey Five tournament started in Lausanne, Switzerland and Indian hockey teams also participated in it. On Saturday, the Indian men’s team drew 2-2 against arch-rivals Pakistan, while starting their campaign with a 4-3 win over hosts Switzerland. At the same time, the Indian women’s team had to face defeats against Uruguay (3-4) and Poland (1-3).
This tournament is played with 5-5 players instead of 11-11 players of hockey. Hockey five match is of 20 minutes which are in two halves of ten minutes each. It is proposed to be included in the Olympics in the coming times. In such a situation, all the teams are trying to mold themselves for this new format and this first tournament has started in terms of preparation in that direction.
victory over switzerland
India has fielded its youth teams in this tournament. The men’s team, led by Gurinder Singh, displayed a scintillating display of fitness, skill and pace in the first match, with Raheel Mohammad scoring two field goals in the second and 10th minutes. Moirangthem Rabichandra scored a challenge goal in the first minute, while captain Gurinder scored for India in the 19th minute. Winkler Jonas (6th minute), Reinhard Fabio (11th) and Krusei Patrick (16th) scored for Switzerland. India was ahead 3-1 till half time.
Draw work with Pakistan
The Indian men’s team took the lead twice against Pakistan in their second match of the day but could not maintain it and drew 2-2. Raheel Mohammad gave India the lead through a field goal in the first minute, followed by Laikat Arshad six minutes later to equalize. Gursahibjit Singh once again gave India the lead in the 18th minute but arch-rivals Pakistan equalized with Abdul Rehman’s goal a few seconds before the last whistle. Coach Graham Reid team will take on Malaysia and Poland on Sunday.
Bad start for women’s team
At the same time, the Indian women’s team had to face disappointment in the beginning. In the women’s team’s first match against Uruguay, Kujur Ajmina (1st and 7th minute) scored two goals while Phalke Vaishnavi Vithal (18th minute) also scored for India. Uruguay’s captain Viana Teresa (2nd, 10th and 19th) made the difference in the match by scoring three goals. Another goal of the team was scored by Villar Manuela (6th minute). The Indian team, led by Rajni Etimarpu, then suffered a 1-3 loss to Poland. Rashmita Minj scored the only goal for India. On Sunday, the team will face hosts Switzerland and South Africa.
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