The Indian men's hockey team continued their winning ways on their Europe tour, beating hosts France 4-1 in the second match of the trip at the Wattignies Sports Centre on Wednesday to sweep the two-match series 2-0.
India had earlier defeated France 2-0 in their opening match of the tour.
Dragflicker Gurjinder Singh converted two penalty corners as India continued their winning streak. Gurjinder (14th, 44th minute) scored twice while Mohammad Amir Khan (30th minute) and Rupinder Pal Singh (52nd minute) found the net once each for India.
For the hosts Gaspard Baumgarten scored the lone goal in the 21st minute.
India went for goals from the onset and opened the scoring in the 14th minute through a penalty-corner conversion from Gurjinder. But France drew level in the second quarter when Baumgarten scored a field goal.
Thereafter, France had a bright chance to score from a penalty corner but Kothajit Singh made a goal-line save to deny the hosts. India attacked from both the flanks and in the process found its second goal when Amir Khan scored from a rebound after the initial try from the penalty corner fell before his sticks to help the visitors take a 2-1 lead at half-time.
In the third quarter, India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stood like a rock to thwart a couple of efforts from the Frenchmen. Gurjinder scored his second of the day in the 44th from another setpiece to make the scoreline 3-1 in favour of India.
{{/usCountry}}In the third quarter, India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stood like a rock to thwart a couple of efforts from the Frenchmen. Gurjinder scored his second of the day in the 44th from another setpiece to make the scoreline 3-1 in favour of India.
{{/usCountry}}India continued to show their supremacy and scored their fourth goal through another penalty-corner conversion, this time from the stick of Rupinder in the 52nd minute.
India will play Spain in their next match of the Europe tour at Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain, on August 10.