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The Harmanpreet Singh-led India suffered a 3-1 defeat against hosts Netherlands in their opening Pool E match of the second round at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Saturday.
The defeat has left Harmanpreet Singh-led India with a difficult task in their bid to qualify for the semi-finals, while the Netherlands secured their place in the last four with the victory. The hosts took control of the contest with goals from Duco Telgenkamp, Tjep Hoedemakers and Thijs van Dam, while Harmanpreet Singh scored India's only goal. The Netherlands made a strong start and opened the scoring through Telgenkamp, putting pressure on the Indian defence. India responded with attacking moves but struggled to convert their chances into goals. Harmanpreet brought India back into the contest with a goal, providing hope of a comeback. However, the Dutch side maintained their intensity and extended their advantage through Hoedemakers and van Dam to seal the win. Despite creating opportunities, India could not find a way past the Netherlands defence in the closing stages as the hosts held on for a crucial victory. With the result, the Netherlands strengthened their position in Pool E and booked their place in the semi-finals. India, meanwhile, remain in contention but their qualification chances now depend on the remaining group results. The Indian team will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixture as they continue their World Cup campaign. (ANI)
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