Harmanpreet's brilliance, Sreejesh's grit fetches India bonus point in shootout win over Argentina
FIH Pro League
Buenos Aires: The Indian men's hockey team snatched a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Olympic champions Argentina after Harmanpreet Singh kept the side afloat in regulation time with his two goals in the action-packed first game of their FIH Pro League tie here.
In an engrossing contest between two evenly-matched teams, it was Harmanpreet (21st minute) who gave India a 1-0 lead with a superbly executed penalty corner early in the second quarter before a quick-fire double from Martin Ferreiro (28th, 30th) put Los Leones into a 2-1 lead at half time.
Argentina held onto their lead until the dying seconds of the match, when Harmanpreet (60th) stepped up to the mark to tie the scores with a second-phase penalty corner for the visitors, who were playing their first Pro League match after more than a year.
The draw guaranteed a point for each team, but it was the tourists who walked away with the bonus point, thanks largely to some brilliant goalkeeping by PR Sreejesh.
As per the event's rules, the team winning the shoot-out also walks away with the bonus point.
Sreejesh denied Lucas Vila, Martin Ferreiro and Ignacio Ortiz before Dilpreet Singh sealed a 3-2 win in the one-on-ones with a cool finish against veteran Argentina goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi.
The result meant India consolidated their fifth position in the FIH Hockey Pro League standings with 12 points from seven matches. Argentina are placed sixth, with 11 points from as many games.
Harmanpreet was deservedly declared player-of-the-match.
"I think the most important thing was that we never gave up," Harmanpreet said. "We were fighting until the last minute, and that is why we got a result here."
Asked what his team needs to improve on for the second game to be played later in the day, Harmanpreet said: "We got lots of cards today, so I think we need to improve on that. We need to keep that in mind so in the next match, we don't get any cards."
The two teams will face each other again on Sunday.
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Treat snake, dog bite victims without demanding money, Min Gundurao directs pvt hospital
Bengaluru: Private hospitals must provide immediate life-saving treatment to victims of snake bites and dog bites without demanding any advance payment, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao said on Friday, stressing that the directive is mandatory and has already been issued as an official order.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Snake Bites Prevention and Control and Rabies-Free Karnataka State Action Plan, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, at Vikasa Soudha.
Stating that the government aims to reduce rabies deaths in the state to zero by 2030, Gundurao said the action plan focuses on strengthening rabies prevention mechanisms.Anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin have been supplied to all primary health centres, community health centres, taluk hospitals and district hospitals across the state, and maintaining adequate stock has been made mandatory.
He added that private hospitals also have vaccines available and must begin treatment immediately without insisting on advance payment.
"To ensure strict implementation, state-level and district-level joint committees have been constituted to monitor compliance," Gundurao added.
The Minister said the initiative is being implemented with the coordination of various government departments, with non-governmental organisations also extending support.
Gundurao also stated that, “in line with Central Government guidelines, the Karnataka government included all snakebite cases under the list of notifiable diseases in 2024. The guidelines have been prepared in collaboration with NGOs, civil society organisations and multiple departments, focusing on prevention, availability of medicines, training of healthcare personnel and public awareness. The primary objective is to eliminate disability and mortality caused by snake bites.”
Reiterating the government’s stand, the Health Minister said that while free treatment for snakebite victims is being provided in government facilities, private hospitals are also responsible to offer immediate treatment without demanding advance payment.
