Sudden-death for India

BERLIN, AUG 30: Indian juniors fought valiantly before going down to formidable South Korea 10-9 in sudden-death in an evenly-contested f...

BERLIN, AUG 30: Indian juniors fought valiantly before going down to formidable South Korea 10-9 in sudden-death in an evenly-contested final of the eight-nation hockey tournament at Poznan, Poland.

The Indians went up 2-0 ahead early in the first period but could not hold on to the 3-2 half-time lead as the Koreans tied score 4-4 at full time last evening. With 15 minutes of extra time producing no result, tie-breaker was applied.

Gurusewak Singh and Korean Jong Bok Cha failed to convert as the two teams remained locked 8-8 4-4 in tie-break after a set of five penalty strokes.

In the sudden-death, Jong Koo Kim put Korea in the lead 9-8 but Arjun Halappa levelled scores again. The Indian challenge in the nerve-wracking final ended when Bimal Lakra8217;s attempt hit the post after Jong Bok Cha had put the Koreans 10-9 ahead.

Skipper Hong Kwang Jiam scored three goals to catch up with Jung Sion Lee two goals as the top scorer of the tournament as South Korea remained the only unbeaten team.

Indiadominated the proceedings in the first half establishing a 2-0 lead by the 17th minute through a Gurusewak Singh field goal and a penalty corner conversion by Len Aiyappa.

But the Koreans struck back, levelling the score through Hong8217;s field goal and Ho Keun Yoo8217;s penalty-corner. Prabhjot Singh put the Indians ahead again 3-2 just before the interval only to see Hong chip in with the equaliser in the 40th minute.

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Bikramjit Singh struck India8217;s fourth goal midway through the second half via a penalty corner but Korea quickly restored parity with Jung Sion Lee8217;s field goal in the high-scoring contest between the two Asian rivals.

After extra time failed to produce any result, Prabhjot Singh, Len Aiyappa, Bimal Lakra and Arjun Halappa converted the strokes in the penalty shoot-out while Hong, Jung Sion Lee, Jong Koo Kim and Sion Jin Jung found the target for the Koreans.

With pressure mounting on both the goalkeepers in the sudden death, Bimal Lakra brought the final to an end after he missed thetarget to give the Koreans the trophy.

India B held

NEW DELHI: India B8217; failed to capitalise on a number of chances as they were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in third and final hockey Test at Harare.