India beat France 2-0 in their Europe tour opener

SV Sunil scored India’s second goal

The Indian hockey team got their fortnight tour long trip of Europe off to a winning start, defeating France 2-0 at the Le Touquet on Monday. Goals courtesy the sticks of Chinglensana Singh in the 18th minute and SV Sunil in the 26th minute. The Indians maintained that lead until the half-time mark and sustained it even after the interval, reports The Times of India

PR Sreejesh, was again in his elements, ensuring that the French didn't get any opportunities to get back into the contest and yet again proving why he is regarded so highly in the international circuit.

This is India’s second straight win over France, following their 3-2 win at the Hockey World League Semifinals  in Belgium, last month.

This was India’s first match under new coach Roelant Oltmans, who has been given the reigns of the team until the 2016 Rio Olympics next year. While the Indian hockey team has shown considerable improvement in recent times, Oltmans and Co. will know better than most a lot of work still needs to be done if the side has to win the country’s first medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

India have one more game coming up against France on Wednesday before they square off against Spain in a three-match series, which begins on August 10th.