India has squandered the chance to win a medal after 30 years in the Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy as they went down to a superior Pakistan 2-3 in the Bronze medal match at Melbourne, Australia.

For India, the goals came from Raghunath (6th minute) and Rupinder Pal Singh (70th) whereas for Pakistan Rizwan Sr. (21st), Shafqat Rasool (41st) and Muhammad Ateeq (67th) were the goal scorers.

Two last-minute penalty corners brought in a ray of hope for India but with Raghunath failing to convert on one, and Rupinder’s conversion on the other, could only help India only to reduce the defeat margin.

India took an early lead in the 6th minute when Raghunath scored between the legs of Imran Shah with a grounded flick, on a penalty corner.

Indians passed quickly in the first half but apart from the lone goal, Indian forwards failed to generate a convincing shot at the goal. With Pakistan defenders giving very little space for the stick swing, the closet India got was when Birendra Lakra’s hit, in the 26th minute, was blocked by the Pakistan’s goalkeeper. A few run-downs by Sunil and Chandi were nowhere near convincing.

Trailing 0-1, in the 22nd minute, in a quick run-down the center flank, Rizwan scored a stunning equalizer from the top of the Indian circle, making the score 1-1.

Moments before the half-time whistle, Muhammad Waqas missed by a sure chance from the top of the Indian circle, misdirecting his hit in an empty Indian circle with only Indian custodian to beat.

Post lemon break, in the 41st minute, Muhammad Waqas’s short pass set up Shafqat Rasool who made it 2-1 for Pakistan. Shafqat’s close-range hit from the right, found its way into the nets between the arm and the ribs of Indian custodian.

To finally seal India’s fate, in the 67th minute, Muhammad Ateeq scored on a penalty corner making it 3-1 for Pakistan. His low flick was far left of Indian goalkeeper PT Rao who stood still and was unable to anticipate the direction of flick.

Pakistan remained superior in the second half as they earned penalty corners in succession (36th, 48th, 54th and 66th). Even though they converted only one of them but that put Indians completely on to the defensive. Meanwhile, Indian forwards generated little moves and even those lacked steam.

The best India could manage in the 2nd half was 3 penalty corners – one early in the second half and two in the last minute.

Throughout the game, Indians never looked in control, generated no threatening moves and remained inferior at ball possession in opponent’s half as well.

Pakistan wins the bronze after a gap of 8 years. Last time India won a (bronze) medal in Champions Trophy was 1982. A fourth place finish in this Champions Trophy assures them a direct qualification to the next version.