Pakistan to meet Australia

S. THYAGARAJAN

Australia will lock horns with Pakistan in the final of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament here on Sunday.

While the Aussies, winners of the Cup in 2007, ensured their final spot with a match to spare on Thursday, Pakistan, whose last appearance in the title fight was in 2004, defeated Malaysia 3-2 in a tension-filled encounter to confirm its berth. Australia beat New Zealand 4-2 in the last match to finish with 16 points.

Even a victory would not have saved the embarrassment of the off-the-board finish for the home team after Korea prevailed over Great Britain earlier.

A win was mandatory for Pakistan to have a shot at the glittering trophy. The team accomplished it warding off a formidable challenge from the host.

Pakistan had the edge almost throughout. But the Malaysians remained in the fray till the final minute. That they forced five penalty corners against the two by Pakistan conveys the intensity of the fight.

Superb backhander

Sohail Abbas gave Pakistan the lead, followed by Waqas Muhammad. Malaysia’s Hanafi reduced the margin but after the break Shakeel Abbasi produced a gem of backhander to increase the lead that was reduced again late in the match by Razie following a penalty corner.

Korea avoided the humiliation of finishing at the bottom of the table with an inspired performance that saw Britain plunge to a 1-3 defeat. For all the good work by Matt Daly, who even produced the equaliser with a classic penalty corner flick, the rest failed to make a match of it against the complicated structural movements of the Koreans. Put ahead by Yoon Sung Hoon from a neatly constructed move with Jeong Byung Jin, the Koreans held the whip hand till Matt Daly scored. But a splendid solo run by Jeong Byung Jin close on half-time put Britain behind again. And shortly after the break, Korea widened the margin through You Hyo Sik to corner full points.

India had an outside chance of contesting for a podium finish on goal-difference with New Zealand if the latter had conceded a difference of more than four goals.

But at 2-4 against Australia, New Zealand finished with one minus in goal difference against India’s two.

New Zealand will play Great Britain for the bronze medal. Korea will take on India in the match for the fifth and sixth place.

Asian Champions Trophy

The first hockey Asian Champions Trophy for men will be held at Ordos (China) from September 3 to 11.

This was confirmed at the council meeting of the Asian Hockey Federation on Saturday. The top six of the last Asian Games are listed as the contenders. They are Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Korea, China and Japan. Four women’s teams, which finished in that order at Guangzhou — China, Korea, Japan and India — will take part in Ordos.

Briefing the media, Tan Sri P. Alagendra said the meeting chalked out various programmes to enhance the profile of the sport in the continent. These would include identifying a special marketing agency for the first time to enlarge the areas of sponsorship.

The results: Korea 3 (Yoon Sung Hoon, Jeong Byung Jin, You Hyo Sik) bt Great Britain 1 (Matt Daly); Pakistan 3 (Sohail Abbas, Waqas Muhammad, Shakeel Abbasi) bt Malaysia 2 (Hafifihafiz Hanafi, Rahim Muhammad Razie); Australia 4 (Brent Dancer, Glenn Turner 2, Christopher Cirello) bt New Zealand 2 (Stevan Edwards, Marcus Child).

Points table: Australia: Played 6, Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost nil, Goals for 18, Goals against 8, Points 16; Pakistan 6-4-0-2-17-15-12; Great Britain 6-3-0-3-12-12-9; New Zealand 6-2-1-3-16-17-7; India 6-2-1-3-15-17-7; Korea 6-2-1-3-12-15-7; Malaysia 6-1-0-5-11-17-3.

Sunday’s matches: (5-6): India vs Korea (1 p.m.); (3-4): Britain vs New Zealand (3.30 p.m.); Final: Australia vs Pakistan (6.05 p.m.).