India make merry against Malaysia

India knocked in six goals in the first session, two of them through penalty-corners and got two in the second, having slowed down after the fast pace set in the first half.

Former captain and striker Pritam Rani Siwatch scored three goals, while Jyoti Sunita Kullu and Suraj Lata Devi got two. Manjinder Kaur was the other scorer for the winners.

In the first half, most of the Indian attack came from the left flank with left-half Sumrai Tete combining well with Jyoti Kullu and Suraj Lata. Coach Bhangu decided to give his bench the exposure in the second half, making good use of the rolling substitution. The Indians created several chances even in the second half, but kept shooting wide.

The goalfest started in the seventh minute when Pritam scored on a pass from the right by Kamla Dalal. Soon came the first penalty corner, and Suraj Lata picked up a rebound off the Malaysian goalkeeper and captain Lai Ling8217;s pads and shot home.

The third goal also came off a penalty corner, with Manjinder latching on to the ball in the Malaysian circle and finishing off with a flourish 8212; a stinging reverse hit. However, the next goal was the most spectacular as Jyoti Kullu snatched a stray ball at the half line, moved up, got past three and beat a diving Ling.

The Indians were unrelenting as two more goals came, off the stick of Pritam Rani. The agile striker first slotted the ball home after Kullu8217;s try deflected off Ling8217;s pads, and then Pritam did justice to a Kamla Dalal pass inside the circle, falling to her left and sending in a scorching back-hander.

The Indians earned just two penalty corners in the second half, and scored off the second, Suraj Lata finding the target in an indirect sequence. In between, Kullu scored the seventh goal for India on a pass from Suraj Lata.

In the morning encounter, Korean captain Jin Hyuk Bang scored two goals, while Kim Soo Jung and Hyung Jung Woo were the other scorers. Japanese captain Sachami Iwao reduced the margin. The Koreans led 1-0 at half time.

Short-sighted official
While the Indian Women8217;s Hockey Federation IWHF has done a commendable job in organising the women8217;s Asia Cup hockey here in the Capital, a lot of good work was undone today due to the canopies set up at the sidelines of the turf. The three canopies, put up by the organisers for the two teams and the technical bench, not only hampered the view of the spectators but also of the mediamen sitting at the enclosed western end.

However, more than the obstruction, it was the attitude of the officials that was baffling. The organisers were requested to remove the canopies or shift it. However, the canopies stayed put even for the evening match.

When the journalists met IWHF secretary general Amrit Bose, she asked them to meet the tournament director Angeline Ee. Ee had a different picture to give. 8220;The canopies have been put up by the organisers, and not on my request. Anyway, the technical bench people will suffer from heat stroke without the canopy, and sun will get into their eyes if they are shifted to the eastern end,8221; she said.

Another FIH ground offical then came up with a shocker: 8220;The game is for the players, so what is all this fuss about,8221; she said.

However, Ee soon changed her mind and came to the Press box to check the view from there. Good sense finally prevailded when Vidya Stokes, the IWHF president informed that the 8220;canopies will be removed this night8221;.