It could have been a repeat of 2006 for Indian mens hockey on Tuesday,but for Bharat Chikara. The striker,who has been forced to play as a defender since the World Cup in March,slotted home a brilliant winner for the hosts in their campaign opener of the Commonwealth Games here against Malaysia,a match that they dominated for long periods without scoring,but ended up slotting home a couple against the flow of the game. India may have won 3-2,but not before they were given a scare by the Malaysians who were much more aggressive on the attack. Despite dominating in the first half,India were stunned by a brilliant angular shot from the even more brilliantly named Hafihafihafiz Hanafi in the 15th minute,to put his team ahead. It was a solo effort that contrasted the Indian attack,which kept going off target. The strikers were not doing well in the first half but we did better in the second, admitted Shivendra Singh. And coach Jose Brasa,while expressing satisfaction with the result,agreed that the team needed more coordination inside the striking circle. India bounced back twice,through penalty corners,to go into half-time all square at 2-2. First,Dhananjay Mahadik hit a direct stroke to the board in the 27th minute,then Sandeep Singh flicked it at the stroke of half time to offset Azlan Misrons solo strike a minute earlier. India attacked a lot more in the second-half but were unable to score. They also got a couple of penalty corners but the Malaysian goalkeeper Kumar Subramaniam proved why he is considered among the best in the world,coming up with brilliant saves more than once. Shivendra was off target,Rajpal Singh just a tad slow and Tushar Khandker had an off day as well. Four minutes from time,it seemed Chikara finally decided to go back to his fortescoring. The youngster,one of the fastest in the Indian team,raced away with the ball from the half line,dodged an opponent inside the box,before turning and slotting a high goal into the net off a reverse hit,bringing the more than 5000 strong crowd to cheers. India had a chance to increase the lead,earning successive penalty corners at the stroke of the hooter,but Subramaniam managed to fend it off both times. But Brasa admitted that,going by the way they played on Tuesday,it would be a tough game against world champions Australia. Normally,they (Aussies) would be expected to win but we will fight it out. If they do,we will make sure that they do not win easily, said Brasa. And Shivendra too admitted the next game would be tough. Every day is a new day. We cannot assume they will win. Lets hope for the best. In other mens games,Pakistan beat Scotland 3-0,New Zealand thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 7-1,while South Africa beat Canada 4-1.
