Hockey : Indian eves impress while men disappoint with fifth position
Hockey : Indian eves impress while men disappoint with fifth position : Keeping the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth games medal in sight, the Indian Women's Hockey team ended its 5-Test match series against the hosts South Korea with a 1-1 draw, claiming the rubber 3-1. Indian women won three games, lost one and drew the last one. While the women's team won honours in Korea, an experimental men side led by veteran Sardar Singh, ended fifth in the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament at Ipoh. In its last game, India steamrolled Ireland 4-1 to avenge its 3-2 defeat in the earlier pool match to claim the fifth position. Though Indian men team wrapped up the tournament with an emphatic 4-1 win, there was not much for the former olympic champions to remember from this edition of the tournament. India lost three games, won 5-1 against the hosts Malaysia and held England to 1-1 draw. Goals by Varun Kumar (5th and 32nd minutes), Shilanand Lakra (28the minute) and Gurjant Singh (37th minute) ensured that India would finish fifth while Ireland’s lone goal was scored by Julian Dale (48th minute). Shilanand (three goals) and Gurjant (four goals) had a good tournament as they impressed the team officials with their scoring abilities throughout the tournament. All the five Test matches were played at Jincheong National Athletic Centre. In the fifth and last game, both the teams scored a goal each in the final quarter of the match. It was Vandana Katariya who found the net in the 48th minute for India but the visitors' joy was cut short when South Korea's Bomi Kim (50') scored an equalizer two minutes later. It was a very well contested first quarter as both the teams displayed patience and went on offensive with good orchestrated moves. Players from both the teams defended well. The lack of attacking intent from either side in the opening 15 minutes saw the scoreline remaining 0-0 at the end of the quarter. The second quarter saw the hosts create better chances going forward and the World No. 9 team made some attacking forays into the Indian striking circle. South Korea's forwards earned two penalty corners in the second quarter but Indian goalkeeper Rajani Etimarpu made great reflex saves on both the occasions. The The Indian girls came out after the half-time break with a rejuvenated spirit as they focused on quick and precise passing, and were threatening the hosts' defense on the counter as well. It was an impressive phase for the visitors as they created a few chances but could not be efficient in their finishing. It was in the 41st minute that the World No. 10 side was awarded its first penalty corner, However, South Korea's Mijin Han made a crucial save to deny the Indians the lead. In the last quarter, both the teams looked to finish off the series on a good note as they looked to create more chances, and were pressing their opposition, winning back the possession, and making quick forward passes to hit their opposition on the counter. It was India who benefited first from their tactics as a well-waited forward pass from skipper Rani was shot into the goal by Vandana Katariya in the 48th minute. However, the lead could only last for two minutes as South Korea also displayed some crisp passing and scored a field goal in the 50th minute through Bomi Kim. The last 10 minutes of the match saw both the teams looking for the match winner. It was the hosts who had a great chance of scoring the winner in the 54th minute when they were awarded a penalty corner, but the drag-flick was shot wide and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. —PTC News
