The Hindu: India squanders lead, draws with Britain
Squanders lead twice
India squandered the lead twice as Great Britain rallied to earn a 2-2 draw in a rain-delayed opening match of the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here on Saturday.
Akashdeep Singh (19th minute) and Mandeep Singh (48th) scored field goals to give India the lead twice, only to see Britain hit back through Tom Carson (25th) and Alan Forsyth (52nd).
India survived a last-minute penalty-corner that was awarded against it for an obstruction outside the circle.
The penalty-corner was confirmed after a video referral by India, but Great Britain captain Phil Roper sent his drag-flick wide to the right.
In the last encounter between these two teams, India had won 2-1 in the Champions Trophy in London last year.
The match started two hours behind schedule after the teams had to scurry off the turf due to lightning and heavy showers in the afternoon.
As the players ran off the pitch and the start deferred, the organisers were bracing for frequent disruptions during the week-long tournament.
India is scheduled to play four of its five round-robin league matches in the afternoon, exactly when dark clouds tend to drench the pitch at the Ipoh hockey stadium.
The results: India 2 (Akashdeep Singh 19, Mandeep Singh 48) drew with Great Britain 2 (Tom Carson 25, Alan Forsyth 52).
New Zealand 1 drew with Australia 1.