K. ARUMUGAM

Chinese were a quick learners. Quick learners always teach you in the end. It’s what happened yesterday in the Asian Games’ women hockey final. India defeated China 7-1 in the first match of Pro-League but could hardly beat them 2-1 in the second. It was in January last year. How the Chinese came close to draw India within 24 hours! They learnt their lessons quickly.

Despite being out of reckoning after 2008 home Olympics, the team has resurrected itself at Gonshu   Sports Park Stadium, beating top-seeded India comprehensively (0-4). In fact, the Indians were surprised with the speed of the Chinese that they lost their rhythm though wake up in the last quarter.

“We played badly”, rued Indian chief coach Jenneke Scoppmann.

It was totally true. India was subdued in the large part of the game, actually after the plot was lost.

India was more experienced, solid so far — without losing any match against China’s 3-1 win-loss record – but none of these manifested in their game today.

India, all subdued and stuttering, came into the game only late in the third quarter. Thereafter, it dominated the field proceedings, but were lacking in sharp shooters. They earned half a dozen penalty corners, not a mean achievement, but, as has been observed and informed all along the last week, they lacked precision in conversion.

That they tried four passes before snubbed by the Chinese defence off the first penalty corner speak for the Indian’s unpreparedness for such as task as semifinal. And semifinal cannot be an occasion to expriement.

One crucial penalty corner was wasted when Monika could not stop the pushed ball properly, and this time the penalty corner was wasted without a shot being taken.

Indians were on back foot in the entire first half, but were error prone in the circle when they found the moorings.

It’s worth mentioning here that twice Indian goals were disallowed, even had one of them been not so, Indian had a chance to bounce with a 2-1 scoreline. It was not to be.

China took the lead in the 25th minute. Jiaqui Zhong converting a penalty corner. China’s three goals out of three came through precision conversions, where as India suffered from inaccuracy in the vital department.

Meirong Zhou (40th min) and Bing Feng Gu (60th min) followed Jiaqui act.

Indians have to blame themselves for being defensive for too long and them wasteful when dominated.

Deep Grace Ekka and Udita in the back, with Nikki Pradhan offered a solid defence when things were not going to the liking of the Indians, almost entire first half, but the midfield where Neha and Monika were supposed to lend solidity was missing. Except occasional forays, few and far between, new faces Deepika or Vaishaniv could produce threatening moves.