India look to redeem pride in bronze medal play-off

GUANGZHOU: Their dream to win an Asian Games gold medal shattered, the Indian men’s hockey team would now look to redeem its pride by getting the better of formidable South Korea in the bronze medal play-off on Thursday.

The shock defeat at the hands of lower-ranked Malaysia through Mohammed Amin’s golden goal in the second semifinal on Tuesday, has led to resignation of national coach Harendra Singh, leaving Rajpal Singh’s side with the enormous task of beating the defending champions.

After their hopes of a direct berth into the 2012 London Olympics went up in smoke, India will have to be at their best against the speedy Koreans, and should not commit the errors that led to their shocking defeat in the last-four stage.

Leading 3-2, and with hardly few minutes to go for the hooter, India were well on their way to the final, but the old habit of giving away the ball did them in. Eight years ago, in the semifinals of the Sydney Olympics, Poland, in a similar fashion, held the eight-time Olympic champions to a draw with a last-gasp effort.

Malaysia’s Amin capitalised on a defensive lapse, moments after his teammates earned a crucial penalty corner by pumping in the equaliser, to lead his country to its first ever final at the Games.

India missed chances galore in front of the goal in the semifinal and they can’t afford to do a repeat in the bronze medal play-off as the Koreans, too, are experts in penalty corner variations.