Saving grace for India in the hockey World Cup

New Delhi: The tune played before India’s match had been changed from the original ‘chak de India’ to ‘all is well’. Though the older tune had failed to inspire the home side enough in previous matches and this one may not yet signify the state of hockey in the country, it was still not bad that India ensured a play-off for the seventh place in the FIH Hero Honda World Cup.

India were held to a 3-3 draw by South Africa in the last pool B match in front of spectators whosenumbers had declined as the team were no longer in the reckoning for a semifinal spot. But as it turned out, it was one of the more exciting matches featuring India, who did well enough to avoid defeat in their last outing.

The result meant that both teams were tied on four points, with India being placed fourth in the group because of a goal difference of minus four, 11 more than the opponents’. Pakistan finished last in the pool.

“Playing for the seventh and eighth spots is not bad. We finished 11th last time and are currently ranked 12th, so we can say that we have stepped up the ladder a little,” said coach Harendra Singh about India, who now await the final round of pool A matches on Tuesday to know who finishes an equivalent fourth there.

The first session saw South Africa start strongly, a goal from Lloyd Norris-Jones in the 10th minute pepping the team up. However, India took control slowly, and the balance of exchanges shifted to the home side. Prabjhot Singh made a fine pass from just inside the ‘D’ to Sarwanjit Singh, who dribbled past a defender to put the ball in neatly in the 17th minute. Diwakar Ram scored following a messed up penalty-corner attempt 16 minutes later and India went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

The second session was an action-packed one. There were moves and counter-moves, appeals and referrals, hits and misses. The engrossing battle was set up with an equaliser from Justin Reid-Ross.

However, India got to see an absurd side of the referral rule when a goal was denied to them after a splendid move between Tushar Khandeker, Rajpal Singh and Gurwinder Singh Chandi, which saw Sarwanjit put the ball in.

The South Africans had already asked for a referral and the Indian goal was disallowed as officials saw a previous move by South Africa and decided to award a penalty-corner for an Indian foul.

That short corner led to another one and captain Austin Smith put South Africa 3-2 ahead. “We were a bit surprised by the decision but there was nothing wrong with it and we don’t plan to lodge any protest for that,” said captain Rajpal Singh.

India did not give up, mounting attack after attack. Finally, a shot from Khandeker put Shivendra Singh in a position to produce the equaliser. India then saw off the dying minutes without more danger.