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Journalism of Courage
Indian hockey’s Greek tragedy reached a fitting finale today when Pakistan comprehensively thrashed Dilip Tirkey’s team 3-0, all the goals coming in the second half.
With half a dozen penalty corners and a fitness level about two paces ahead of the Indians, it was a surprise that Pakistan didn’t win by more goals. Certainly, in the first half it was only some valiant Indian defending — captain Tirkey and goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza again being the pick of the team — that kept the Pakistanis from greater statistical achievement.
The first goal came in the 44th minute courtesy Tariq Aziz. Sixteen minutes later, Sohail Abbas made no mistake with Pakistan’s fifth penalty corner.
In the 68th minute, the humiliation was rubbed in by Shabbir Muhammad, scoring a goal facilitated by a deflection from an Indian defender.
For a match that was supposed to be ‘‘sold out’’, the crowd was a disappointment. The stands were about 60 per cent full.
Some of the spectators for the previous New Zealand-South Korea match — tickets for the double header were sold together — simply went home.
Many Indian fans didn’t bother to show up; most tellingly, the Indian contingent and army of officials, regulars at previous hockey games, failed to arrive as well, perhaps preferring to watch Anju Bobby George’s qualifying jump.
As such, the Pakistan section of the crowd was bigger, noisier — ‘‘Pakistan zindabad’’ far outshouted the feeble sounds of ‘‘Go India’’ — and, at the end of the match, happier.
India now play South Korea, who lost to New Zealand, in the battle for eventh spot. The team is also out of the Champion’s Trophy, to be played in Pakistan this winter.
From controversial star Dhanraj Pillay to embattled coach Gerhard Rach to IHF supremo K.P.S. Gill — who watched today’s match without a smile — a number of performance appraisals would be in order now.
Dutch-Australia final
Earlier, the Netherlands defeated world champions Germany 3-2 and and will take on Austraia in the final tomorrow. The Aussies defeated Spain 6-3. Australia have made the finals three times in the past but have yet to win a gold medal to add to their haul of three silvers and three bronzes.
“It’s always great to beat the Germans but to beat them in the semi-finals of the Olympics is even better,” beamed Dutch forward Karel Klaver.
The Dutch have not lost a game in Athens but there were times the winning streak seemed to be fading against Germany. The Germans scored in the third minute when Matthias Witthaus dragged a cross into place and slammed it into the net.
Despondency flashed across some Dutch faces and hands flew up in appeal but the team regrouped, pushed to the other end and within two minutes they earned a penalty strike, hammered in by Teake Taekema.
“To get back so fast was very pleasing because the German defence is hard to break. It allowed us to regain balance and keep them from making any more chances,” said the Netherlands’ coach Terry Walsh.
Germany had more ball possession during the game and created 12 opportunities at goal against the Netherlands’ seven.
