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Rio 2016: A steady start

* India hockey team edges past tricky Irish outfit 3-2 * Dragflickers Rupinderpal, Raghunath shine

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India’s Rupinderpal Singh (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Ireland at Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday
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In any major tournament, it's really important to start well. And, it's something Indian hockey is not known for.

However, the men's team changed that trend on Saturday, defeating a tricky Ireland outfit 3-2 in their opening encounter of the Olympics here. Head coach Roelant Oltmans would've heaved a sigh of relief, for this victory is bound to give some confidence and momentum for the tougher challenges that are staring at the team ahead.

It was the two experienced Indian dragflickers who ensured a winning start to the team. VR Raghunath (15th minute) and Rupinderpal Singh (27th, 49th) converted three out of seven penalty corners India earned in the match to secure their first win in an opening clash at the Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games.

Ireland gave India a run for their money, especially in the second half, finding the net twice through Jermyn John (45th) and Conor Harte (56th) at the Olympic Hockey Centre.

Going by world rankings, India (5th) were favourites in the Pool B encounter against Ireland (12th) and the eight-time gold medallists dominated the first two quarters.

From the word go, the Indians started on an attacking note and put pressure on the Ireland citadel with relentless raids. The Irish, on the other hand, were happy to fall back and defend in numbers, depending mainly on counter attacks.

India earned as many as six penalty corners in the first two quarters as against Ireland's two. Just a second from the end of the first quarter, India earned three back-to-back penalty corners, the last of which was ably converted by Raghunath with a powerful low flick to the right of Irish goalkeeper David Harte.

Seven minutes into the second quarter Ireland had their first scoring chance when they secured a penalty corner and John Jermyn scored from the opportunity but the goal was disallowed as the push was not stopped properly.

India then secured their fifth penalty corner, which was beautifully converted by Rupinderpal in the 27th minute.

The Indians managed to get another penalty corner in the final minute of the second quarter but wasted the opportunity as they went into the breather with a two-goal cushion.

After the change of ends, Ireland looked a completely different side as they took the initiative and pressed the Indian defence hard in search of goals.

The Irish, featuring in hockey at the Olympics after a hiatus of 108 years, in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes and Jermyn scored his first international goal from the second opportunity to reduce the margin to 2-1.

India then earned another set piece in the final quarter, which was powerfully struck by Rupinderpal to register his second and country's third goal of the day.

But Ireland did not sit back and put continuous pressure thereafter, managing to break the resolute India defence in the final 10 minutes of the match.

Under pressure, the Indian defence looked out of sorts and in the process conceded four penalty corners, the third of which resulted in a goal for the Irish.

Three minutes from the final hooter, Ireland earned another penalty corner to send jitters in the Indian camp but luckily for India the resultant effort went wide.

—With PTI Inputs

Results: India 3 (Rupinderpal 27th, 49th; VR Raghunath 15th) bt Ireland 2 (J Jermyn 45th; C Harte 56th); Other results: Argentina drew with the Netherlands 3-3

N ZONE

2004
The last time the Indian hockey team won a match at Olympics was when they beat South Korea 5-2 to finish 7th in 2004 Athens Games

250
This was Sardar Singh's 250th international match for India in his glittering international career spanning from 2006 till date

DID YOU KNOW?

India secured a win in an opening clash at the Olympics for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics

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