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Men suffer 1-4 loss to Aussies; to play Pak for bronze, Indian eves enter final

The Indian women’s team played out a sluggish 1-1 draw against Malaysia on Saturday but it was enough to fetch them a place in the Lanco International Super Series Hockey 9s final here on Saturday.

With a draw against the hosts on Friday and full points against Malaysia on the opening day, India did enough to book a final berth in the three-nation event.

They will face Australia in the summit clash on Sunday.

The experienced Jasjeet Handa put India ahead in the fourth minute, her first goal in three matches but the team allowed the Malaysians to claw back later in the game.

India ended up conceding a penalty corner just 10 seconds before the final hooter and Rahma Othman Siti converted it for Malaysia to earn her team its first point in the four-day competition. The Indians, however, got a taste of the Hockeyroos might as the hosts rallid back to script a brilliant 3-2 win. Vandana Katariya put India ahead from a penalty corner in the 10 minute before Jad Close equalised within a minute. Emily Smith FG (18th) and Marnie Hudson (20th) made it 3-1 while Deepika pulled one back for India six minutes from time.

Men suffer big loss

The Indian men’s hockey team’s hopes of reaching the final went up in smoke after Australia handed them a 4-1 drubbing in their last league match on Saturday.

India will now face Pakistan for the bronze medal play-off match on Sunday. By winning all their matches, Australia entered the final majestically and will battle it out against New Zealand for the top honours on Sunday.

India needed a win against the Kookaburras to make it to the final but fell short in all departments of the game. Australia set the pace early on and went on a scoring spree, while India could reply only once through Sardar Singh.

Earlier, Pakistan too failed in its endeavour to make the final. It needed an outright win, but the Kiwis denied them, holding it to a 1-1 draw.

India were left to do the chasing act quite early in the match when twice FIH Player of the year Jamie Dwyer put his side ahead in the second minute itself leaving Indian goalie PR Sreejesh flummoxed.

Australia widened the gap four minutes later through Russell Ford.

The Indians got their act together to some extent after conceding the lead. Medio-turned-attacker Sardar reduced the margin after Gurbaj Singh set him up. Sardar sent in a grounder that whistled past Aussie ’keeper Tristan Clemons.

Desmond Abbott all but ended India’s chances with an immaculate push towards the goal and then a minute from close, Dwyer scored his second goal.