Rising star Sukhjeet Singh was awarded as the Player of the Match. This was the first match that the Indian men team played under the guidance of new chief coach Craig Fulton, who succeeded Graham Reid earlier this month.

The win was the fourth for India in the onging 2022-23 season of the Pro League. India now stand third in the league table with 11 points from five matches. India had begun the season with a 4-3 and 7-4 win against New Zealand followed by a 2-3 loss and 2-2 (3-1 SO) win against Spain in the home games played in October-November last year.

India will play three more Pro League matches at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium this month. They will face Australia on March 12 and 15 and in between take on Germany again on March 13.

ODISHA CM RECEIVES GUINNESS WORLD RECORD CERTIFICATE: The India-Germany Pro League match assumed added significance with the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He also received the certificate of recognition from Guinness Book of World Records for Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium Rourkela being the largest fully seated hockey stadium of the world with 20,011 permanent seats.

Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium was one of the two venues where the 15th Mens Hockey World Cup was held in January 2023. The stadium was claimed to have been built in record 15 months.

Receiving the certificate, Chief Minister Patnaik said, “This recognition by Guinness Book of World Records is a testament that our state Odisha has come a long way and has made a mark in the international sports map. I dedicate this recognition to the people of Odisha.”
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TOP: India forward Sukhjeet Singh in action during their Pro League match against Germany in Rourkela on 10 March 2023.
RIGHT: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik receives the Guinness Book of World Records certificate for Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on 10 March 2023.