India secured three back-to-back penalty corners in a span of two minutes - the last of which was converted by Harmanpreet with a powerful, low grounded flick to take the important lead that decided the outcome of the match.
After a not-so-impressive pool campaign, India not only stunned world no.3 Belgium but all and sundry at the stadium with their spirited show in the quarterfinals.
The HWL final will be the first real test for India's new chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who took over just two months ago from the legendary Roelant Oltmans.
The team went through the paces under the watchful eyes of chief coach Sjoerd Marijne as it started its preparations for the eight-nation tournament, starting on December 1 in Bhubaneswar.
Besides Lakra, two other Indian players, Dipsan Tirkey and Amit Rohidas will also get a chance to play before their home crowd in the HWL Final.
Rupinder's inclusion in the HWL Final squad will add sheen to India's already potent penalty corner area which also has the likes of Harmanpreet, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas.
In the Asia Cup, Sardar Singh shunned his playmaker role in the midfield for young skipper Manpreet Singh and played as the 'free defender'
Besides India, World League champions Australia and Germany, Pool B also features seventh placed England, who are the reigning bronze medallist in the Euro Hockey Nations Championship.
The Green Shirts, currently ranked 14th in the FIH standings, ended seventh in the World League Semi-Finals in London, where the likes of Germany, England, Netherlands and Belgium earned World Cup qualification by finishing in the top five.
In contrast, 2016 has been a landmark year when the men's team won its maiden Champions Trophy silver medal, which propelled them to No. 5 in the FIH rankings - India's best standing since 2004.
Despite maintaining an upper hand throughout the match, India let the opponents (Ireland) score two goals in the final quarter.
Preeti's 38th-minute goal ensured India earned their first win in the tournament after a goalless draw against South Africa and a 1-4 loss to the mighty USA in their previous matches.
Sreejesh will miss the Asia Cup but we will try our best to make him fully fit before the all-important Hockey World League Final in December, says India's High-Performance Director David John.
Inconsistent India had to settle for the sixth place after going down to Canada 2-3 in a fifth-sixth place match of the Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final.
Continuing their dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan, India hammered the green brigade by 6-1 in a 5th-8th place classification match in the Hockey World League Semifinals.
After registering emphatic wins in their first three games, India suffer their first defeat by 1-3 against higher-ranked Netherlands in the Hockey World League League Semi-Final.
India hockey team on Sunday wore black arm bands during its match against Pakistan at the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final to condole the deaths of martyrs in the recent attacks on the Indian Army
Penalty corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh and forwards Talwinder Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored a brace apiece as India flayed Pakistan 7-1 in a Pool B clash to storm into the quarter-finals of the Hockey World League (HWL) Semi Final
In the absence of star drag-flicker Rupinderpal Singh, the onus will be on Kothajit Singh and Harmanpreet Singh to hold the fort in the backline ahead of important clashes against Pakistan and Netherlands.
New Delhi: On-field achievements often jostled for space with off-field drama as Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year during which the players scripted historical feats but coach Paul van Ass' acrimonious ouster and Gurbaj Singh's
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