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In a thrilling quarter-final clash at the Paris Olympics, India's men's hockey team overcame adversity to defeat England 1-1 (5-4) in a penalty shootout. Despite being reduced to 10 men after a red card in the second quarter, India displayed remarkable resilience and determination to secure a semi-final berth.Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the hero for India, scoring the equalizer in regulation time and the decisive penalty in the shootout. His passionate celebration in front of England goalkeeper Ollie Payne reflected the intensity and emotion of the match.Coach Craig Fulton praised his team's unwavering spirit, saying, "When st happens, get together." India's defense, led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, stood firm against England's relentless attacks, saving 21 shots on goal, including 10 penalty corners.Captain Manpreet Singh, who was forced into a defensive role after the red card, acknowledged the significance of the victory. "From one man down, yes, it was the greatest win," he said.Fulton emphasized the importance of teamwork and love for one another in overcoming the challenge. "When you talk about defense, it's also about showing your love for the teammate, by covering him, by helping him," he said.The victory was a testament to India's ability to adapt and respond to adversity. Despite the setback of the red card, they remained focused and executed their defensive tactics with precision.

England's Marcus Smith delivered a dramatic last-ditch drop-goal to secure a thrilling 23-22 victory over Ireland at Twickenham, ending the reigning Six Nations champions' hopes of a successive Grand Slam.Despite trailing 17-8 early in the second half, England rallied with tries from George Furbank and Ben Earl to take a 20-17 lead. Ireland's James Lowe scored his second try to edge the visitors ahead, but Smith's late heroics snatched victory for the hosts.England dominated the first half, with Ollie Lawrence scoring the only try. However, Ireland's Jack Crowley kept them in the game with four penalties, giving them a 12-8 halftime lead.After Lowe's early second-half try, England responded with Furbank's score. Peter O'Mahony's sin-binning proved costly for Ireland as Earl crossed for England's third try.Lowe's second try in the 73rd minute seemed to have sealed Ireland's victory, but Crowley's missed conversion proved crucial. England refused to give up and Smith's drop-goal in the dying moments secured a memorable triumph.The victory revives England's title hopes after their defeat to Scotland last time out. Ireland can still retain their crown with a win at home to Scotland next Saturday.

England's Jamie George has vowed to defend Twickenham "like every Englishman would" when Ireland visits on Saturday for a crucial Six Nations clash. Ireland, the reigning champions, are seeking a fifth consecutive victory over England and a bonus-point win that would secure their title retention with a game to spare. They also aim to become the first team in the men's Six Nations era to achieve back-to-back Grand Slams.Despite Ireland's impressive form, George remains confident in England's ability to upset the odds. "We believe that we're going to win," he declared. "We don't want anyone, any opposition, to come to Twickenham and have an easy ride."George emphasized the importance of home advantage, stating, "This is England. This is Twickenham. This is home. And we're going to defend our home, like every Englishman would." He acknowledged Ireland's strength but expressed his team's determination to prove their worth.England coach Steve Borthwick has labeled Ireland the best team in the world on current form, but George believes his side can challenge them. "If we get our things right then we are going to come out on the positive end of the result," he said. "That is genuinely what I believe and I have seen some positive signs this week that we are going to be going in the right direction."Ireland's recent record is impressive, with 23 wins in their last 25 Tests. However, England pushed South Africa, the reigning World Cup champions, to the limit in their semi-final loss last year. George believes this experience will serve them well against Ireland.