The Hindu : Pakistan lands bronze

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Pakistan lands bronze

By S. Thyagarajan

(3-4) Pakistan 4 India 2

(7-8)S. Africa 2(4) Belgium 2(3)

(5-6) Britain 3 New Zealand 2

MADRID, MARCH 13. It was not a classic duel, but it certainly had some exhilarating moments. Inexplicably circumspect and innocuous at times, India slipped to the fourth place, conceding the bronze to Pakistan in the pre-Olympic hockey tournament here today.

Even the remarkable victory the cricket team accomplished in Karachi failed to inspire the Indians here on a sombre, grey afternoon.

The margin of victory may give the impression that India was outplayed. But such an assumption would be false. Pakistan was equally ineffective in phases. But what helped Pakistan was the tight work in every layer, better ball control and possession.

On the contrary, India, despite the good work by deep defenders Dilip Tirkey and Kanwalpreet Singh, suffered because of an inconsistent attack.

With Baljit Singh Dhillon turning out a mere passenger, the rest of the frontline flunked quite a few openings.

The mid-field tended to be wobbly, save for the neat tackles by Viren Resquinha and Ignace Tirkey. Pivot Bimal Lakra was too tentative, and Baljit Singh Saini never got anything right. Some of Saini's free hits rolled directly to the Pakistanis. Goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan was alert in the first half, effecting one brilliant save off Shakeel Abbasi and then stopping a penalty corner drive by Dilawar Hussain.

Pakistan's frontline made repeated inroads thanks to the crisp passing of Nadeem Ahmed and the dangerous sallies by Rehan Bhat. It was Nadeem who provided a perfect pass for Shabbir Ahmed to slot in the lead. India had to struggle for quite some time before Prabhjot Singh struck off a cross from Arjun Halappa. But strangely again, Halappa went into a shell, making frequent errors at crucial moments.

Shortly after the break, Sohail Abbas slammed in a penalty corner, and weak clearance by Saini prompted a Pakistani counterattack which culminated in Shakeel Abbasi increasing the lead.

However, a Len Aiyappa centre gave Gagan Ajit Singh possession and his reverse shot beat goalkeeper Salman Akbar all ends up. Just as one thought that India was still in the fight, came the goal by Tashif Jawad.

South Africa, meanwhile, won a nerve-wracking match to ensure a seventh spot ahead of Belgium. Fighting back into the match 10 seconds before the end of regulation time through an equaliser by Greg Clark, South Africa survived the moments of tension in the tie-breaker and sealed the outcome with a flick by Ian Symons in the sudden death phase.

As the seventh-ranked team, South Africa will have to wait for the judgement of the Court of Arbitration which is hearing the appeal by Hellenic Hockey Federation for an automatic qualification for Athens.

Belgium had a clear 2-0 lead within the first quarter through Charles Vandeweghe and Jean Philip Brule. South Africa reduced the margin when Ian Evans slugged in a rebound before half-time. Greg Clark gave the team a lease of life seconds before the hooter.

In the tie-breaker, Greg Nicol, Ian Symons and Craig Fulton scored for Belgium, while Jean Philippe Brule, Marc Courdron and Petre Gilles scored for Belgium.

In the sudden death Ian Symons flicked in for South Africa but Phillippe Brule pushed the ball into the pads of substitute goalkeeper Dave Staniforth.

On Friday, Great Britain finished fifth defeating New Zealand 3-2. Britain had to smother a lot of pressure initially, but took control midway through when Ben Hawes converted a penalty corner.

Shortly after the break, Barry Middleton stretched the lead and when Russel Garcia slotted in the third goal it looked as though everything was over for New Zealand.

However, a goal by David Kasoof brought the Kiwis back into the picture. A penalty corner goal by Ryan Archibald put the pressure on the Britons to defend and they did just that to coast to an impressive victory.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cricket

India wins a humdinger

Support dilemma

Oram reaches maiden century

Butcher, Hussain help England recover

Tamil Nadu keen to break the jinx

Tennis

Dev Varman in final

Davenport posts facile victory

Hockey

Pakistan lands bronze

Athletics

TN team for Fed Cup

Chess

Bakre becomes GM