Indian men, women in final

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Sandeep Singh yet again played a stellar role, with a brace to power India to a 4-2 victory against Poland to dash the visitors’ Olympic hopes in the Olympic Qualifying Men’s Hockey Tournament at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tonight. In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Sandeep struck the first and fourth goal, to emerge as the top scorer with 11 goals, as India sealed an all-win record to majestically stride into the final.

Win or lose, India would have entered the title clash having already notched up 12 points, but Poland needed to either win or at least draw this match, to pip France to the title spot, as earlier in the day, France had drawn against Canada 1-1. A draw would have helped Poland tie with France on 10 points, but would have seen them through on better goal difference. India will be too pleased to meet France in the title clash for an Olympic berth, as in the group match, the hosts had given them a 6-2 hiding.

It was a sad exit for Poland, who had forged ahead converting their very first penalty corner through Tomaz Dutkiewicz in the 12th minute. India squandered three penalty corners before Sandeep hit bull’s eye with the fourth with a high scoop in the 26th minute. Though India continued to dominate, Poland put up a fight, breaking the Indian game plan with long scoops, but India took the lead, after wasting three more penalty corners, when Shivendra Singh guided home a carpet drive from the top of the dee by Saravanjit Singh, in the 25th minute. But three minutes later, Poland pulled even off their second penalty corner which was converted by Miroslaw Juszczak.

But the Polish elation was short lived, as following a counter attack, India forced their eighth penalty corner and V.R.Raghunath scooped in, to score his second goal of the tournament. And then Sandeep rounded off the tally with a clean sweep, off the ninth penalty corner, and he was greeted by a blinding roar from the packed galleries. India and France clash for the title on Sunday.

Eves beat Italy Indian eves made many a heart miss the beat before they finally slotted home the matchwinner against Italy (1-0) to book a berth in the final of the Olympic Qualifying Women’s Hockey Tournament at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tonight. In an error-prone match, despite dominating, India, after muffing five penalty corners, got it right off the sixth, though in an indirect way, when Ritu Rani flicked in after Jaspreet Kaur’s powerful drive hit Italian goalkeeper Roberta Lilliu, and the ball popped up.

As it came down, Ritu Rani was well-positioned on the left of the goal, and flicked it from below shoulder-level to guide home. But the goal was allowed only after the umpires had a consultation as they first thought that Ritu had hoisted her stick above the shoulder level, which would have ruled out the goal.

India had no other escape route, but to win this match to earn a place in the final. But as usual they failed to seize their chances and made heavy weather of the contest. What came as a real shocker was their inability to score off five penalty corners as either they delayed taking the shot, or tried indirect hits and missed. Only Jaspreet Kaur’s powerful direct hit off the fourth penalty corner rattled the Italian goal, though it went wide narrowly, and she made up for the lapse when she paved the way for the all-important goal.

India were lucky that Italy could not convert any of the five penalty corners they earned, particularly the last two ones, which came just two minutes before the final hooter. When the visitors muffed their last penalty shot too, the packed stands heaved a collective sigh of relief as the Indian eves got into a huddle and celebrated the victory.

India will meet South Africa in the decisive clash tomorrow. Saturday’s fixtures: India vs South Africa (8 p.m): Canada vs Poland (5th-6th position, 3 p.m); Ukraine vs Italy (3rd-4th, 5.30 p.m).