Gold Coast 2018: Indian girls overpower Malaysia in Commonwealth Games hockey
Making a heavy weather of its game against much low placed Malaysia, India raced to a comfortable 4-1 win in the XXIst Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast on Friday. It was India's first win in two games after a disappointing 2-3 loss to Wales in the opener on Thursday. Drag flicker Gurjit Kaur scored twice from nine penalty corners earned by the Asia Cup champion India while skipper Rani also chipped in with one of two field goals scored by India in the second half l to make it a convincing 4-1 win for maximum three points from the game. Malaysia responded with a penalty corner goal. Malaysia may have lost the game but not without putting up a gallant fight in the first three quarters, restricting current Asian champions to a solitary goal lead in the first half. India has now games against England and South Africa in the pool. Earlier in the men's section, two games saw 15 goals scored as England beat Malaysia 7-0 and New Zealand won 6-2 against Canada. Though India took the lead early in the first quarter through a neat drag flick by Gurjit Kaur, the team never looked like Asian games because of disjointed game, both in defence and offence. If Malaysians managed to stage a fight back after conceding an early lead was fragile defence, erratic passing and poor interception. There were hardly any good combined moves. When Malaysia equalised in the third quarter, it looked like game going either way. But second penalty corner conversion by Gurjit restored confidence of Indian girls and they started putting their game together. There was a visible improvement in moves, attack and defence of the Indian team after establishment of 2-1 lead. When Rani Rampal scored third goal with a neat deflection, the Indian girls were in total command of the game. The fourth and last goal saw another good deflection after the Malaysian defence had been ripped open through good passing. Consistency and better penalty corner conversions are the areas that Indian girls need to focus in the coming games. Tomorrow, Indian men open their campaign against traditional arch rivals Pakistan.
