India gets a stick from Pakistan

India came to the match already out of the medal race, but nevertheless were desperate for a win against the traditional-rivals which could have salvaged some pride for the beleagured team.

First-half goals by Muhammed Saqlain (15th minute) and Imran Muhammed (30th) followed by Shakeel Abbasi’s strike (68th) earned the Pakistanis full three points, while India’s lone goal came through Didar Singh’s effort in the 56th minute. India finished their league engagement without opening their account, while Pakistan took their points tally to four with one match against Germany still to go. The side had drawn their opening match against Champions Trophy winners Spain.

India had a very impressive beginning, when they dominated their rivals with some fine moves early on and in the process created some good chances. In the first eight minutes, they earned two penalty corners, but could not take advantage with Kanwalpreet Singh and captain Dilip Tirkey failing to convert them.

But that was all they could do in the first half as Pakistan regrouped themselves quickly and made some effective counter attacks which saw them winning three set pieces in quick duration. The Pakistanis wasted the first two penalty corners but struck from third one when captain Saqlain Muhammed scored off the rebound much to the delight of the team’s supporters in the stand.

Pakistan, appearing a completely changed side after drawing the first blood, doubled the lead when Imran Muhammed scored in the 30th minute. India, on the otherhand, struggled in almost all the aspect of the game with the forwards, in particular, cutting a sorry picture yet again.

Gagan Ajit Singh, playing his first tournament since the last year’s Athens Olympics, had a fine chance to score once for India when he got a free ball inside the Pakistani circle but failed to trap it properly.Both Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur also played far below their potential, doing no good to India’s cause.

Holland crash out of podium finish

Hosts Holland crashed out of a podium finish as an enterprising South Korea upset them 2-1 in the Rabo Trophy here on Wednesday.

The Busan Asian Games champions who led 1-0 at the break played at a furious pace coupled with courage and conviction to book their place for the bronze medal playoff on Sunday.

Korea scored through Lee Jong Soon from their fourth penalty corner and striker Yoon Sung Hoon (46th min) while Roderick Weusthof found the mark for the Dutch in the 36th minute. Holland, who needed to get full points, after drawing with England the previous day, for a medal game, were unable to cope with the tenacious Korean defence despite numerous raids from both flanks.