Maico Casella scored the first goal of the tournament as Argentina overcame a fighting South Africa 1-0 in the opening Pool-A match, the first of the current World Cup, at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Later in the day, England demolished Wales 5-0 in the first Pool-D match at Birsa Munda Stadium, Rourkela. Liam Ansel scored a brace for England.

Amit Rohidas stole the show in the last match of the day as India struck twice in the first half to clinch a hard-arned win against Spain. Rohidas capitalised on a blocked drag flick by captain Harmanpreet Singh to bury a shot in the goal, which was 200th goal for India in the histroy of the the competition. India struck again before the half through a field goal by Hardik to take a solid 2-0 lead into the half. Rohidas was named the Player of the Match.

India had great chances in the third quarter to add to their lead, primarily through a Harmanpreet Singh penalty stroke, but the attempt was saved comfortably by Adrian Rafi. India also won two penalty corners in the third quarter, but Harmanpreet Singh sent both attempts wide.

The India-Spain game was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Sikkim Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey and Executive Director Cdr RK Srivastava.

RESULTS (13 January 2023):

Match 1 (Pool-A, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Argentina (Maico Casella 43-FG) beat South Africa 1-0. PoM: Maico Casella.
Match 2 (Pool-A, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Australia (Tom Craig 9-FG, 32-FG, 45-FG, Flynn Ogilvie 27-FG, Jeremy Hayward 27-PC, 29-PC, 39-PC, Tom Wickham 54-FG) beat France 8-0. PoM: Tom Craig.
Match 3 (Pool-D, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela): England (Nicholas Park 1-FG, Liam Ansel 28-PC, 38-PC, Phil Roper 42-FG, Nicholas Bandurak 58-FG) beat Wales 5-0. PoM: Sam Ward (England).
Match 4 (Pool-D, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela): India (Amit Rohidas 12-PC, Hardik Singh 26-FG) beat Spain 2-0. PoM: Amit Rohidas.
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TOP: Odisha star and India vice-captain celebrates after scoring the 200th World Cup goal for the country against Spain in Rourkela on 13 January 2023.
RIGHT: Australian hat-trick man Jeremy Hayward in action during their World Cup match against France in Bhubaneswar on 13 January 2023.