India drubbed 4-1, fail to make the final cut

The Indian men’s hockey team’s hopes of reaching the final went up in smoke after Australia handed it a 4-1 drubbing in their last league match of the Lanco International Super Series 9s here on Saturday. India will now face Pakistan for the bronze medal on Sunday. By winning all their matches, Australia entered the finals majestically and will battle it out against New Zealand for top honours .
India needed a win to make it to the final but fell short as Australia set the pace early on and went on a scoring spree. India just managed reply only once through Sardar Singh. With a draw and two loses India finished last in the four-nation event.

India were left to do the chasing act quite early in the match when 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. Sardar reduced the margin after Gurbaj Singh set him up. Sardar sent in a grounder that whistled past the legs of rival goalie Tristan Clemons. The pacy Australians did not let the momentum slip in the second half even as India continued their sluggish approach.

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. Custodian Sreejesh did well in the first half with neat clearances but he was let down by forwards who did not score. Young Yuvraj Walmiki twice missed out on sitters, both supplied by the hard-working Danish Mujtaba.

Eves in summit clash

The Indian women’s team played out a sluggish 1-1 draw against Malaysia on Saturday but it was enough to earn the side a place in the Super Series Hockey 9s final at Perth. They will face Australia in the summit clash on Sunday. Jasjeet Handa put India ahead in the fourth minute,but 10 seconds before the hooter Rahma Othman Siti converted the 10th penalty corner for Malaysia to earn her team its first point in the three-nation competition.