Indian men, eves record easy wins
M.S. Unnikrishnan
India quelled a late fightback by France to record a 6-2 victory to earn full points in the Olympic Qualifying Men’s Hockey Tournament at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tonight. When India thought they were riding home nicely with a 3-0 lead, France pulled one back at the stroke of half time off their first penalty corner to make it 1-3. Though India struck two quick goals on resumption to enhance the tally to 5-1, France struck from their second penalty corner too to reduce the margin. But India came up with one more goal late in the match to seal their stamp of authority and emerge with full honours.
Sandeep Singh brilliantly powered home the first two penalty corners and then scored from a penalty stroke to garner three goals, to take his personal tally to seven in the tournament so far, though when V.R.Raghunath attemped the next two, he failed to cash in on the chances.
India set a scorching pace from the start, and took the lead in the fourth minute when Shivendra Singh connected a pass from the top of the dee by Tushar Khandekar, which was relayed to him by Saranvjit Singh. Four minutes later, India forced their first penalty corner, and Sandeep Singh’s scoop brooked no denial. And then, S.V.Sunil made the sprint of his life down the left flank, and as he cut into the dee for the kill, with Shivendra Singh on toe, he was tripped by a defender, and Sandeep quietly scooped in the resultant penalty stroke to take the score to 3-0. When the hosts were preparing for the half time break, France earned their first penalty corner, which was swept high into the goal by the tall and stocky Lucas Sevestre.
India regained the advantage immediately on resumption when Sandeep swept in off the second penalty corner in the very first minute, and three minutes later, Shivendra cut in from the left and shot, which was deflected by rival custodian Mathias Dierckens, but Sunil charged in from the right to dispatch the ball in.
France scored off their second penalty corner through Fabien Magner to give some jitters to the hosts as they narrowed the lead to 5-2, but Tushar rushed into paste the sixth goal eight minutes before the final hooter to help India record their third straight victory.
India, however, may be in for some trouble, in the last two matches, as earlier, Canada spanked Singapore 15-1 while Poland pounded Italy 7-2.
Poland, who had shocked Canada, may prove a difficult nut to crack for the hosts, though if they play with the same intensity and purpose as they displayed today, there is no reason why the home team should not end up on the podium in the final reckoning.
Eves beat Poland
Indian eves overcame a major barrier when they pulverised Poland 3-0 in a crucial match of the Olympic Qualifying Women’s Hockey Tournament at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tonight. With seven points from three matches, India have strengthened their claim for an Olympic slot, though the fight is far from over, as they are at par with South Africa.
The three Ranis – Ritu Rani, Rani Ramphal and Rani Poonam – scored real royal goals to put the hosts on road to victory, after leading by a goal at half time. India heaved a sigh of relief when they took the lead in the 14th minute, after muffing an early chance to score, when a move down the half line, culminated in Rani Poonam passing the ball goalward inside the dee, and Ritu Rani deflected it in from close.
India forced many chances, but had to settle for just one goal in the initial session, after Deepika Thakur and Rani Ramphal hit wide, with an open goal staring them. However, Ramphal made up for the lapse on resumption when she enhanced the lead just a minute after the restart by beating a clutch of defenders to slot the ball home.
Then the hosts squandered three penalty corners in a row before Poonam found the mark off a cross from Deepika Thakur. So all of them made up for their lapses by featuring in the three goals, and the win came as big relief for India as earlier in the day, Ukraine stunned Canada 5-2 while Italy held South Africa to a 1-1 draw. Italy did India a favour by taking a point off South Africa, as India have a better goal difference of 7-2 compared to South Africa’s 5-2, and the tussle between the top two teams tomorrow will virtually decide the toppers.
Tomorrow’s fixtures:
Women: Ukraine vs Italy (10 a.m), Canada vs Poland (2 p.m); India vs S Africa (6 p.m). Men: Poland vs Singapore (12 noon), Italy vs France (4 p.m) and Canada vs India (8 p.m).