Tags:
Journalism of Courage
CANBERRA, SEPT 17: India conceded a late, controversial penalty-stroke as they suffered their second straight defeat by doing down 1-2 to Canada in the Australia Cup four-nation hockey tournament here today.
India looked vastly different to the team routed 1-6 by South Korea yesterday with the midfield duo of Baljit Singh Saini and Baljit Singh Dhillon constantly troubling the Canadian defence, reports Australian Association Press.
After a barren first half, Canada went ahead through a 43rd-minute rebound conversion by Andrew Griffths following a penalty-corner, but India drew parity 10 minutes later though forward Samir Dad.
However, the Pan American Games champions, who had stunned Champions Trophy winners Australia 4-0 in the opening tie of the double-leg tournament, sealed the match when 236-game veteran and skipper Peter Milkovich converted a stroke awarded by Korean umpire Lee Won Seok three minutes from the final hooter.
Indian chief coach Vasudevan Baskaran said he was pleased with the way hisinexperienced team had lifted since yesterday but they still needed to do a lot of work to emerge a serious contender in next year8217;s Sydney Olympics.
India, who had gone down by a lone goal to the Canadians in last year8217;s World Cup at Utrecht, the Netherlands when the two last met, paid for a string of unforced errors that let their rivals back into the match after being locked 1-1 for most part of the second-half.
