India defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in the shootout to clinch third place in the Hockey World League finals at Raipur. This was after regulation time ended with both teams locked at 5-5.

At half-time, India looked dead and buried. The Netherlands were up 2-0 and looked like they were coasting. What followed was utter mayhem. In the third quarter, Ramandeep Singh found the net from a penalty corner. It was just the stroke of magic India needed. In the 47th minute, Rupinder Pal Singh found form to convert another penalty corner. India were back in the game 2-2. Ramandeep Singh scored again to make it 3-2 and give India a slim lead. The Netherlands fought back three minutes later, scoring from a penalty corner to make it level again. It looked it would head to a draw and a shoot-out.

In the last five minutes, India were given a gift. A botched penalty corner led to a penalty stroke which Rupinder Pal Singh converted. 4-3. Then, Akashdeep Singh cut in from the right and put it in. With four minutes to go and the Netherlands 5-3 down, it looked like the Oranje's turn to be dead and buried.

But this is not the world's second ranked team for nothing. With two minutes left on the clock, Weerden van der Mink put in two, the last coming with five seconds to go. When the hooter went, the match read a scarcely believable 5-5.

At the shootout stage, it seemed that India were the ones more affected by the sudden reversal as they missed their first stroke. But then keeper Sreejesh Parattu showed off his skills pulling off a succession of saves. It boiled down to a last penalty stroke from Rupinder Pal Singh. He made no mistake and India ran out winners, taking the shootout 3-2 to clinch the bronze medal.