India made a bright start to their campaign at the Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over England in Pool A at the State Hockey Centre on Saturday.
The Indian team clinched a morale-boosting win through field goals from Danish Mujtaba (22nd minute) and Yuvraj Walmiki (38th) before Gurwinder Singh Chandi scored in a setpiece penalty corner (66th minute).
Earlier, the India defence was breached by a drag flick from Richard Smith on England’s maiden penalty corner in the 14th minute.
Playing the first major international event after their disastrous last-place finish in the London Olympics, India has come to the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy with a new-look team after dropping several ageing stars.
India will take on New Zealand on Sunday in their second outing in Pool A, which also features Germany. Germany edged past New Zealand 3-2 in the other Pool A match on Saturday.
