Clinical India pound italy 8-1

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Indian men found another whipping boys in Italy, pounding them by 8-1, to record their second successive victory in the Olympic Qualifying Men’s Hockey Tournament at the National Stadium here tonight. India were on a high after whipping the lowly Singapore 15-1 last night, and they carried forward the winning momentum against Italy too, to keep their hopes high of Olympic qualification.

Italy, who had suffered a 0-8 hiding at the hands of Canada in their opening match, had the satisfaction of knocking in a goal from their very first foray into the Indian goal, which earned them a penalty corner and Alessandro Nanni scored off it, though by then India had taken a two-nil lead. India did not allow Italy to have another close peep into their goal, and the Italian goal was the result of a sloppy defensive play.

The import of India’s game today was that they made maximum use of the penalty corners as Sandeep and V.R.Raghunath brooked no denial. In fact, the first four of India’s goals came off penalty corners. Sandeep Singh’s clean drag-flick earned the first goal off the first PC in the third minute and Raghunath did ditto with the second, again a clean hit through the carpet. Then Italy pulled one back, but Sandeep widened the lead with a high scoop off the third PC, and he made no mistake with the fourth either, to make a personal tally of three goals. S.V.Sunil and Gurwinder Singh Chandi also etched their names in the score card with a goal each as India retired for the half-time break with a 6-1 lead.

As expected, India slowed down on resumption, but still knocked in two more goals through Sunil, who deflected in a long sweep from outside the dee by Sandeep, and Shivendra Singh. In the second half, the only point of interest was whether India would be able to equal the number of goals scored by Canada against Italy, though India let in a goal, unlike Canada.

But this win would have surely boosted the morale of India, which will stand them in goodstead when they meet the tough France on Tuesday, after a rest day tomorrow.

Eves beat Canada

Indian eves found their scoring touch to make merry against Canada, pounding them by 4-1, in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the National Stadium here tonight. The hosts ensured victory in the first half itself when they took a comfortable 3-0 lead, and the fourth goal on resumption came as an icing on the cake.

The hosts kept a high tempo of speed and dribbling skills to charge at the rival goal with their intent of scoring clear, which resulted in five penalty corners and four goals. The Indian girls atoned for their erratic display against Ukraine last night, when they dropped a valuable point with a 1-1 draw. They were in no mood for charity against the Canadians, who had drawn 2-2 against Italy yesterday, as the hosts attacked with venom, and did not relent, till mid-way through the second session.

India were quick off the block, and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute, though it was wasted. But they made no such mistake with the second PC forced in the 16th minute as Soundarya Yendala deflected in, after Joydeep Kaur had swept the ball goalward.

Two minutes later, Rani Ramphal cut in from the left, gave the slip to a couple of defenders, before despatching the ball home.

Sushila Chanu Pukkrambh’s direct hit off the fifth penalty corner fetched the third goal six minutes before the interval. Though India tempered the pace of play on resumption, they added a fourth goal through Anuradha Devi Thokthom, who drove home powerfully.India got a few more chances to score, but they failed to cash in on the chances, and instead, conceded a goal at the fag,when the wiry Hannah Haughn slipped one in following a goal-mouth rush.

The victory has certainly not put the hosts on the comfort zone, as earlier in the day, South Africa beat Ukraine 2-0 to record their second win to lead the table while Poland beat Italy. India meet Poland on Tuesday, after a rest day tomorrow, and the Poles’ domination against Italy was a matter of concern for the hosts.