New Zealand started slow and decided to keep themselves confined to the defense area, however, they stroked their first goal of the match through Lane from their first penalty corner and stunned India.  News Arena Network 

I have full faith in (goalkeeper PR) Sreejesh and in all the young players in the team. Five players are going to make their debut at the Olympics but they too have good experience of international hockey, said Tirkey.

India is coming into the London leg of the Pro League on the back of a mixed performance in Antwerp, Belgium where they won two hard-fought matches against Argentina and lost an equal number of games to the hosts.  

"For me, this Olympics is really important because at this age it is really hard for me to talk about the next four-year cycle. From the last Olympics, I was only taking one year at a time. The rest decision comes after the Olympics," Sreejesh stated. 

"If you take it from outside and, of course, it's a challenging situation but at the same time, you've got a level of professionalism, and then from a start point of view we have to have our plans in place," said Fulton during a pre-event press conference.

Indian hockey player Varun Kumar who is accused of raping a minor, withdrew from the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar.

“We have already started collecting evidence. We are scanning through messages exchanged between the victim and Kumar, the voice notes, and call detail records. We would also be approaching their mutual friends to record statements,” he said.

"He is not absconding. He is in Bhubaneswar with the team," a Hockey India source disclosed to a media house. 

Despite plenty of attacks from South Africa in the second quarter, India's defence maintained their composure and remained resolute in their determination to keep a clean sheet.

India, currently ranked third in the world, has been drawn into a competitive pool where they will encounter strong opposition. Pool A consists of the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France, and South Africa.