Reigning champions and World No. 2 Belgium, who won the title in the 2018 in Odisha, will take on South Korea in Bhubneswar.
Trailing by two goals, Spain pressed on the accelerator, earning a couple of penalty corners in the final quarter but the Indian defence stood tall in the absence of skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was rested for the game.
'Now we are giving them a reason to pick up hockey, play the game and make the country more proud than this'
Eight-time champions India have been clubbed alongside title holders Germany and World No 2 Netherlands in Pool B at the men's hockey competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Netherlands survived a major scare to beat China 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation to retain their women's title at the Paris Olympics on Friday, giving the Dutch the hockey double after Thursday's men's triumph.
After a dismal eighth place finish in Rio Games, much is expected from the Manpreet-led side.
Olympic champions Australia took top spot replacing Germany who slipped to second in the latest World Hockey Team Rankings.
A heart-wrenching defeat in the semi-finals notwithstanding, a demoralised Indian men's hockey team will have to regroup quickly and aim for a second consecutive podium finish at the Olympics when it takes on Spain in the bronze medal play-off in Paris on Thursday.
Indian junior women's hockey team goes down against Germany
The victory also secured them a place at next year's Olympics.
Indian women's team did not find a place in the top 10.
India slumped to a humiliating 2-5 defeat against formidable Germany in Group B and went out of the reckoning for a berth in the semi-finals of the men's hockey competition at the London Games on Friday.
The squad includes goalkeepers PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, and defenders Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, and Gurinder Singh.
The FIH Hockey Pro League matches between India and Great Britain, scheduled for May 8-9 in London, were on Wednesday postponed following the UK government's decision to add India to the travel 'red list'.
The German was axed after the team slumped to fourth in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
A round-up of matches from the Hockey World Cup played on Saturday.
Olympic champions Germany will look to set aside security fears and focus on clinching their third straight world title when the men's hockey World Cup kicks off on Sunday.
The Indian men's hockey team has been offered a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore for winning the World Cup.\n
Germany outclassed last edition silver medallist Netherlands
Bjoern Michel scored the golden goal in the second half of extra time to help Germany beat Spain 4-3.
The prolific drag-flicker said the series would be an opportunity to test the team further after its title-winning run in the Asian Champions Trophy in China earlier this month.
Just when you think you have seen enough of him, the genial goalkeeper from Kerala conjures up something special and leaves you pleasantly surprised.
The India men's hockey team put up a brave fight before going down 1-2 against reigning Olympic champions Germany to slump to their third consecutive defeat in the four-nation test event ahead of the upcoming London Olympics in London on Saturday.
'Right now hockey is totally changed and anyone can beat anyone depending on the day. It depends on how many chances you create.'
Indian men's hockey team witnessed a disappointing start to its campaign at the six-nation Invitational tournament, losing 0-4 to Germany in their opening match in Valencia on Monday. In a first quarter blitz, Germany took the lead in the fifth minute via Mats Grambusch. Grambusch doubled Germany's lead minutes later before Moritz Furste scored a third in the 14th minute to take a 3-0 lead into the first break.
The 11th place finish at the World Cup saw India drop a notch to seventh in the rankings, headed by World champions Germany.
India started their campaign in the eight-nation Under-21 men's hockey tournament by thrashing Poland 9-1 at Mochengladbach in Germany on Tuesday.
A summary of the country's athletes' showing at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday, August 3.
France and Germany will clash in the final of the Junior Men's Hockey World Cup. The French made history when they beat Malaysia via the penalty shoot-out in the first semi-final to make their maiden appearance in the final while the defending champions Germans got the better of the Netherlands 5-3.
The general impression that the Indian hockey team concedes late goals has changed with its second successive Olympic bronze medal and the Harmanpreet Singh-led side is one of the best in the world in all aspects, feels the legendary Zafar Iqbal.
Germany's junior hockey team coach Valentin Altenburg believes hosts India will be one of the contenders to win the FIH Junior World Cup, which will begin in Lucknow, on December 8.
After two straight defeats the Indian team is looking to pick full points against a depleted German side.
India will battle it out against the likes of South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China in the Asian Champions Trophy.
Former captain M M Somaya says the Indian team also needs players with leadership qualifies like Dilip Tirkey.
The Netherlands beat New Zealand in a Pool A match to register their second straight win in the men's hockey World Cup, at the Dhyan Chand National stadium in Delhi, on Wednesday.
Olympic bronze medallist Germany defeated Malaysia 5-3 in a keenly-contested match
Hockey India appointed former Olympic gold-medallist V Baskaran as a coach of the men's national team on Wednesday and he will work under the recently-appointed chief coach Terry Walsh.
Indian men's hockey team on Sunday officially qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague (NED), according to the latest release issued by the FIH.
A historic bronze-winning show by the men's team and an outstanding fourth place finish for the women's team infused fresh life into the game which was in danger of slipping into oblivion.
