PRESS RELEASE by Hockey Adhoc Committee

India Win Test Series Against New Zealand

India beat New Zealand with a well deserved 2-0 victory to win the
four test hockey series at Lloyd Elsmore Stadium at Auckland today.

India scored both goals from penalty corner strikes by Dilip Tirkey
(43rd min) and Sandeep Singh (67th min).

India drew the first and third tests 1-1 and beat New Zealand 2-1 in
the second, thus wrapping up the series 2-0.

The visitors stepped up once again in the second half after a
controversial finish to the first session during which neither side
could break the 0-0 deadlock.

India should have taken the lead in the 19th min from their first
penalty corner, but Sandeep Singh saw his flick being stopped on the
goaline. They lost another chance shortly after when Sardar Singh set
up Shivendra Singh but the Gwalior striker shot wide.

The Indians worried the Kiwi defence with forays from the left, first
with the Arjun Halappa-Tushar Khandker combination followed by
individual bursts from midfielders Rajpal Singh, Sardar Singh and
Gurbaj Singh.

Though India played a little one dimensionally in the first half, and
New Zealand’s cover defence was equal to their attacks, goalkeeper
Stephen Graham again made some crucial saves.

The second half was a different story however with India picking up
the pressure. Dilip Tirkey playing his 380th international nailed a
penalty corner strike in the 43rd minute to give India the lead much
to the delight of the sizeable Indian expat crowd.

From there they opened up the game and were spectacular in the counter attack.

New Zealand had their chance for the equaliser from an indirect
penalty corner drill and were awarded a stroke after the umpire
thought that the ball had struck the foot of Vikram Pillay. It had
infact struck the foot of a Kiwi forward and after the two umpires
consulted, the decision was reversed.

Indian skipper Sandeep Singh scored the match sealer in the 67th
minute finding the top left of the goal with apparent ease.

Inexperience showed at times in the Blacksticks, with many players
guilty of turnovers which the polished Indians capitalised on.

Coach Incharge Harendra Singh said that this was the best show
produced by his team on the tour and was happy that the boys rounded
off with a convincing win.

The Indian squad will arrive in Delhi on Tuesday morning.

AD Hoc Committee IHF Media Release