KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 20: India almost relived the nightmare of last year's Commonwealth Games as they dished out an ordinary fare before rallying to draw 1-1 against Malaysia in an absorbing Pool B match of the Fifth Asia Cup Hockey Championship here today.The Asian Games champs had to dig deep into their reserves before forward Gagan Ajit Singh struck the crucial equaliser in the 44th minute. The hosts had taken a 15th minute lead through Kuhan Shanmuganathan at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.India missed quite a few openings in the first session as Shanmuganathan's flick went in low to the right of Indian goalkeeper Jude Menezes raising fears of the reverse they suffered against the hosts in the Kuala Lumpur games semi-final in September last year.India equalised off their fourth penalty corner when Baljit Singh Dhillon flicked to Gagan Ajit who deflected in. Both India and Malaysia have four points each from two games with one in hand, but the former are almost through to the semi-finals as they face lowlyHong Kong in their last game. Hong Kong were thrashed 8-1 by Malaysia in their first match.Earlier, China came back in the final minutes to pull off a 1-1 draw with Bangladesh in a Group A encounter. Reza Shamim gave Bangladesh the lead while Yi Song found the equaliser minutes before the hooter off a penalty corner.India earned their first penalty corner in the sixth minute but defender Dilip Tirkey, who had to plough a lone furrow today as others struggled, found the hit deflect off a defender's stick. They continued to attack but kept missing.Malaysia took the upperhand soon after. Off a 12th minute penalty corner, Saiful's shot was saved by Dinesh Nayak but the hosts powered through in the next four minutes, attacking at will.Jude Menezes stopped another try the very next minute but Malaysia struck off their third penalty corner. Kuhan was in position after a dummy run and his low flick wrong-footed Menezes as he moved up. India desperately tried to launch attacks, but failed to convert with a17th minute penalty corner and soon after an erratic Dhanraj Pillay with only the Malaysian goalkeeper in front flicked onto his body and out of play.India were erratic in almost all departments. The mid-field cut a sorry figure with Thirumalvalavan and Ramandeep Singh doing precious little. Malaysia meanwhile slowed the game down as Pillay was substituted but his replacement Samir Dad failed to impress and also could not fall back to assist the mid-field.With 10 minutes left, Nayak earned temporary suspension for a crude tackle on K Gobi.
