Host India (World Rank 5) destroyed Russia (WR 22) 10-0 in their opening Pool-A match to give their campaign a flying start in the FIH Mens Series Finals here at Kalinga Stadium Hockey Complex today. Poland (WR 21) crushed lowest ranked Uzbekistan (WR 43) 4-0, while USA (WR 25) upset South Africa (WR 16) 3-0 in two other matches of the opening day.
Harmanpreet Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored two goals each, while Nilakanta Sharma, Simranjeet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar, Gursahibjit Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad contributed one each in the easy win for India. Nilakanta Sharma was adjudged the Player of the Match. He was presented with a cash prize of Rs 25,000.