Now Reading: Dravid, Waugh watch India lose 1-3 to Netherlands in Hockey World Cup
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Dravid, Waugh watch India lose 1-3 to Netherlands in Hockey World Cup
Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh were among the spectators at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen as India lost 1-3 to the Netherlands in the second round of the FIH Hockey World Cup…
Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh were among the spectators at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen as India lost 1-3 to the Netherlands in the second round of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on August 22. Dravid's presence carried special significance: the former India cricket captain played hockey in his school days at St Joseph's Boys' High School in Bengaluru, where he was a midfielder alongside future India hockey players Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh.
On the field, the Netherlands took control in the second half. Telgenkamp opened the scoring in the 41st minute, and Hoedemaekers doubled the lead six minutes later. Harmanpreet Singh pulled one back for India with a penalty-corner goal in the 52nd minute, but Thijs van Dam restored the two-goal cushion three minutes later. The Dutch defending champions secured their place in the semifinals, leaving India's hopes of progressing hanging by a thread.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Dravid's bond with hockey is not new: in January 2018, while coaching India's Under-19 cricket team in New Zealand, he watched the senior hockey team beat Japan 6-0 in the Four Nations Invitational. That night, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh thanked him publicly. The deeper issue here is India's recurring struggle against top-tier European sides in knock-out tournaments. The Netherlands have now beaten India in successive World Cup meetings, exposing the gap in finishing and defensive organisation. India must win their final group match and hope other results go their way to reach the semifinals. The next fixture is likely within days.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
