SOJC 2017: Consolation bronze on anvil for India

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, 28 October,2017: Facing two successive defeats including one today against Great Britain turned the defending champion India to hope for consolation bronze. India lost to Australia in their fourth match, Great Britain did the same to them today in their fifth match. India went down 1-2 to Great Britain at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium.

Raushan Kumar’s goal in the 25th minute was not enough for India to win the match as Tom Sorsby (20’) and Jack Waller (52’) helped Great Britain in qualifying for the final of the tournament.

Going into their last round robin match, India needed a win in order to qualify for the final of the tournament whereas Great Britain only required a draw.

At the end of the first quarter, India won a penalty corner which was well saved by Great Britain’s Goalkeeper Chris Wyver as Pratap Lakra shot.

In the second quarter, it was Great Britain who took the initiative as they were awarded three penalty corners in the 20th minute, the first two of which were well defended by India. But Great Britain were third time lucky when Tom Sorsby scored when he shot past India’s Pankaj Rajak.

In the 25th minute, Maninder Singh found Dilpreet Singh just outside the circle with a calculated pass, and Dilpreet Singh shot at goal, which was deflected into the back of the net by Raushan Kumar to level the scores for his team.

The third quarter ended goalless with the score locked at 1-1.

In the last quarter, Great Britain’s Jack Waller scored off a PC and India went behind 1-2.

India will now face Malaysia in the Bronze medal match of 7th Sultan of Johor Cup 2017 on Sunday, 29th October 2017 at 15.35hrs IST.