India misses semifinal berth

The defending champion draws with China

KUANTAN (Malaysia): India, needing an outright win to reach the semifinals, squandered a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 draw against China in the Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Tuesday.

Skipper Sandeep Singh (31st and 34th) converted two of India’s four penalty corners to put the side ahead, but the Indian defence crumbled at crucial junctures to allow China escape with a draw.

For China, Lu Feng Hui (45th) and Yu Yang (59th) sounded the boards.

India was beaten 2-3 by Pakistan in its first match of the tournament.

Inconsistent

China’s tenacity and its ability to slow the pace of the game won the day for it against an inconsistent Indian side which played well in patches.

The Indian wingers, especially Arjun Halappa, were impeccable with their crosses.

But the forward line, comprising Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh, was guilty of fumbling on numerous occasions.

However, Sandeep, who was off-colour in the first match against Pakistan, converted two penalty corners in a span of three minutes as the defending champion went into the breather with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Sandeep opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a fierce drag-flick that beat the Chinese custodian hands down after Tushar Khandekar had earned India’s first penalty corner.

Three minutes later, he doubled the lead with another immaculate penalty corner conversion.

With a 2-0 cushion, the Indians came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.

But the strategy backfired as it created open spaces in the midfield and the nimble-footed Chinese were quick to cash in on the opportunity with swift counterattacks.

The Chinese, who spoilt India’s medal hopes in the 2006 Asian Games with a 3-2 victory, reduced the lead in the 45th minute when Hui found the net with an indirect variation off the team’s first penalty corner.

Chinese forward Yang drove the final nail in India’s coffin in the 59th minute with a delicate touch from a free hit following a costly defensive lapse.

Desperate

A desperate India worked hard for the elusive winner, but the Chinese defence stood tall to thwart any threat to its semifinal spot.

Just 50 seconds from the hooter, Sandeep did get an opportunity to seal the match and a semifinal place for India.

But his drag-flick was stopped by a diving Chinese goalkeeper Su Ri Feng to dash India’s hopes. — PTI