Already out of the summit clash, a misfiring India had to toil hard to get the better of Canada 5-3 and register its first win in the 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here on Thursday.
Rupinder Pal Singh (13th minute) and V.R. Raghunath (32nd) converted penalty-corners before Ramandeep Singh (46th, 47th) scored two field goals, while Satbir Singh (49th) rounded off the tally with another field strike.
For Canada, which is ranked 15th in the world compared to India’s ninth, Oliver Scholfield (43rd), Jagdish Gill (49th) and David Jameson (52nd) were the scorers.
Far from impressive
Even though the Indians had the better share of possession and ball control, they were far from impressive. For the fourth straight match, the Indians were guilty of missing numerous chances and their fragile backline, as usual, conceded soft goals.
With two fine drag-flick exponents in Raghunath and Rupinder in its ranks, penalty-corners are considered India’s strong point, but cut a sorry figure in this department as well, utilising just two of eight.
Besides being new chief coach Paul van Ass’s first win after taking charge of the team, the only consolation from the game was the performance of its forwardline, which finally showed some form by scoring three field goals.
India will next play its toughest match of the tournament against world champion Australia on Saturday.
India is out of Sunday’s final race after having garnered just four points from four games with just a win and a draw.
The result:
India 5 (Rupinder Pal Singh 13, V.R. Raghunath 32, Ramandeep Singh 46, 47, Satbir Singh 49) bt Canada 3 (Oliver Scholfield 43, Jagdish Gill 49, David Jameson 52).