The Indian team on Friday lost to the defending champions Australia 3-4 in their first match of the FIH Pro League. Starting in the FIH Pro League, India have scored five out of six points against the Netherlands, while winning 2–1 against Belgium added three points. World and European champions Belgium, however, returned in the second match to win 3–2. But host India had to fight hard against number two Australia in the world and eventually lost in a close match. For Australia, Dylan Wotherspoon (sixth minute), Tom Wickham (18th minute), Lachlan Sharp (41st minute) and Jacob Anderson (42nd) scored the field goals.
For India, Rajkumar Paul (36th and 47th) scored two goals while Rupinder Pal Singh (52nd minute) scored. With this win, Australia have moved up to third place in the points table with nine points from five matches while India have scored eight points in the same number of matches. Australia has shown why it is considered the most ruthless hockey team. He capitalized on the first opportunity and in the sixth minute Wotherspoon scored a beautiful goal from Sharp's pass. India tried to overcome it but did not succeed. Wickham doubled the score in the 18th minute on a pass from Eddie Oakenden. Australia were ahead 2–0 by the time interval. India got a penalty corner in the fifth minute of the third quarter but Rupinder's drag flick was saved by Jack Harvie.
A minute later, Prince scored on a rebound. Shortly afterwards Australia retaliated and earned a penalty corner but Indian goalkeeper Krishna Bahadur Pathak saved Corey Ware's shot beautifully. But Australia kept the pressure and within two minutes scored two goals to take a strong 4–1 lead. The Indians, however, did not give up and Rajkumar scored the second goal in the 47th minute.
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