Gagan Ajit's beauty gives India the trophy

MILTON KEYNES, JULY 11. Gagan Ajit Singh slammed in the match- winner to give India a trophy triumph in the Castrol International hockey festival which ended here on Tuesday.

India fought tooth and nail to quell a spirited challenge from Japan by four goals to three to remain undefeated in the four nation tournament, which featured, aside from India and Japan, France and Scotland.

The win should come as a great booster of morale for the Indians who will start as the favourites for the World Cup qualifying championship at Edinburgh from July 17 to 29.

Despite the initial dominance and playing many a variegated patterns, India conceded an early lead to Japan when Naoya Iwadate, who utilised the defence lapse to advantage in the seventh minute.

India attacked relentlessly, with the talented Prabhjot Singh playing a prominent role in the frontline sallies.

Parity was restored when Daljit Singh Dhillon produced the equaliser in the 18th minute, and the teams went for the break locked at 1-1.

There was a palpable improvement in the pace of the contest and midway through the intensity was at its peak. As many as five goals came in a quarter of an hour, the last from Gagan Ajit Singh surfacing in the 60th minute.

Japan went into the lead for the second time in the contest from a goal by Makoto Karuo and hung on to it till Prabhjot Singh equalised.

For a brief spell, India surged ahead when Daljit Singh Dhillon slugged in his second in the match. Japan hit back through Takaya Fukuoka from a penalty corner in the 59th minute.

Gagan Ajit Singh then produced the peach of a goal from a centre by Prabhjot Singh.

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Section  : Sport
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