India posts impressive win

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 10. India clinched the first of the four-Test match hockey series for the Videcon Cup with an authoritative 3-1 win over Malaysia at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh astro turf stadium here on Monday. Midway through, the host led 1-0.

Barely a minute after the start, Jagbir Singh centred down the flank to Somesh Kantha, poised perfectly at the Malaysian goal- mouth. Kantha fumbled but the duo more than made amends 20 minutes into the contest.

Deepak Thakur forged a foray from the mid-field, only to be intercepted by a defender in the semi-circle. That deflection was, however, seized by Jagbir and nudged back to Kantha, who made no mistake.

Nine minutes into the latter half, Sekhar Babu was felled by a Malay player in the danger area. In the resultant penalty corner, it was a straight-forward conversion, hardly 10 minutes after resumption. With the surface still moist from the watering during the break, Amarjit Singh's hard hit hissed headlong into the rival backboard.

A peach of a goal by centre-half Deepak Thakur was breathtaking in its beauty. Thakur, with his back to the rival citadel, steered home a diagonal pass from the right by Jagbir Singh, positioned in mid-field. The stunning reverse hit left the Malaysian custodian Shaiful Azhar shell-shocked.

Skipper Boon Huat pulled one back with about quarter of an hour to go for the hooter. The veteran of over 100 international matches, both for his country's senior and junior sides, pounced on the stop in his team's eighth penalty corner and scooped high into the net.

For the home team, Mallan Gowda was a man hard to beat under the bar. Seconds before the change of ends, he thwarted two attempts in quick succession and from close quarters.

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