Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Indian eves defeat Canada 4-1
After being held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Ukraine last evening, India today came out all guns blazing with Soundarya Yendala (16th minute), Rani Rampal (19th), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (29th) and Anuradha Devi Thokchom (49th) sounding the board.
The world number 20th team, Canada, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Italy yesterday, couldn`t make much penetration and failed to pose much threat to the Indians even though they managed to score a solitary goal in the dying moments through Hannah Haughn (69th).
With this win, India earned three points to lie in the second position along with Italy in the pool. India had bagged one point on Saturday.
The world number 13 India played an aggressive game right from the start and kept the ball in the rival camp for most part of the match.
India earned their first penalty corner as early as in the seventh minute but Anuradha Devi couldn`t make it count as her shot went wide. Three minutes later, Anuradha had another go at the post, but once again she squandered the chance.
At the 16th minute, India got a second PC and this time, skipper Asunta lakra and Soundarya Yendala combined well to put the hosts in the lead. Lakra took the strike with Soundarya deflecting it home.
Three minutes later, Rani Rampal scored from a free hit when she dribbled past a few defenders and hit home from inside the D.
In the 27th minute, Rani Rampal earned India another PC with Lakra taking the strike, which gave way to the fourth PC for the hosts, but the skipper couldn`t make it count again.
One minute later, India earned another PC and Jaspreet kaur took the strike, which culminated into another PC.
However, this time the hosts didn't make any mistake as Lakra and Sushila Chanu (29th) tried out a variation with the latter scoring from the D-top on the right side to take India to a commanding position.
In the second half, Canada looked more agile, but they still found it difficult to make much inroads into the rival half as Indian defenders and midfield were equally alert.
In the 49th minute, Anuradha Devi scored from inside the D after being feed by Rani Rampal to make it 4-0 in India's favour.
In the 69th minute, Canada's Hannah Haughn scored a consolation goal from a goalmouth mellie, but it was too little and too late. Lara was adjudged the player of the match.
Clinical India maul Italy 8-1 in mens Olympic qualifier
After their 15-1 drubbing of Singapore on Saturday, India's match against Italy was also expected to be a high-scoring affair and it turned out to be one as the home team toyed with the Italian defence in the opening half to pump in as many as six goals as against the visitor's one.
However, the second half turned out to be a dampener for the Indians as they could manage just two goals even though they penetrated the Italian defence continuously.
The most heartening thing that came out for India from Sunday's match was their penalty corner conversion rate.
Michael Nobbs wards converted four out of the five penalty corners they earned in the match with Sandeep Singh (4th minute, 22nd, 23rd) alone striking three goals.
Player-of-the-match SV Sunil (30th, 38th) scored two goals while VR Raghunath (12th), Gurvinder Singh Chandi (32nd) and Shivendra Singh (52nd) scored the rest for the hosts.
For Italy, Alessandro Nanni scored the consolation goal. Expectedly, the 41st ranked Italy, who came as a replacement for Egypt in the event, were a mismatch for the eight-time Olympic champions and world ranked 10th, India.
It took India just four minutes to take the lead when Sandeep scored from the home team's first penalty corner with a powerful low drag-flick to the right of Italian goalkeeper Fabrizio Federici.
The Indians earned another penalty corner soon and this time Raghunath found the back of the opposition net with a fierce flick.
Five minutes later Italy pulled one back against the run of play from their first penalty corner. Allessandro Nanni scored from a lose ball after William Cottam missed out on the drag-flick.
Sandeep, however, converted two more penalty corners with in a span of two minutes to make the scoreline 4-1 in favour of the Indians.
After the initial four strikes from penalty corners, India scored two field excellent goals to go into the breather with a comfortable 6-1 lead.
An unmarked Sunil scored the first of the field goals in the opening period after receiving a well measured pass from the right from Tushar Khandker.
Two minutes later, Chandi also registered his name in the scoresheet when he slapped home the ball from the top of the circle.
The Indians started with the same intensity in the second half and took just three minutes to sound the board when Sunil deflected home Sandeep's tantalizing pass down the middle.
Shivendra completed the tally for India when he deflected a Chandi into the Italian goal.
India threatened to score more goals and on two occasions came close but Shivendra and Sunil lacked in finishing.
With this win, India are currently at the top of men's pool with six points from two outings. Even though France has same points as India, they occupy a close second position because of their inferior goal difference.
India will next play France on Tuesday after a rest day on Tuesday, while the Italians will be up against Poland.
The most heartening thing that came out for India from Sunday's match was their penalty corner conversion rate.
Michael Nobbs wards converted four out of the five penalty corners they earned in the match with Sandeep Singh (4th minute, 22nd, 23rd) alone striking three goals.
Player-of-the-match SV Sunil (30th, 38th) scored two goals while VR Raghunath (12th), Gurvinder Singh Chandi (32nd) and Shivendra Singh (52nd) scored the rest for the hosts.
For Italy, Alessandro Nanni scored the consolation goal. Expectedly, the 41st ranked Italy, who came as a replacement for Egypt in the event, were a mismatch for the eight-time Olympic champions and world ranked 10th, India.
It took India just four minutes to take the lead when Sandeep scored from the home team's first penalty corner with a powerful low drag-flick to the right of Italian goalkeeper Fabrizio Federici.
The Indians earned another penalty corner soon and this time Raghunath found the back of the opposition net with a fierce flick.
Five minutes later Italy pulled one back against the run of play from their first penalty corner. Allessandro Nanni scored from a lose ball after William Cottam missed out on the drag-flick.
Sandeep, however, converted two more penalty corners with in a span of two minutes to make the scoreline 4-1 in favour of the Indians.
After the initial four strikes from penalty corners, India scored two field excellent goals to go into the breather with a comfortable 6-1 lead.
An unmarked Sunil scored the first of the field goals in the opening period after receiving a well measured pass from the right from Tushar Khandker.
Two minutes later, Chandi also registered his name in the scoresheet when he slapped home the ball from the top of the circle.
The Indians started with the same intensity in the second half and took just three minutes to sound the board when Sunil deflected home Sandeep's tantalizing pass down the middle.
Shivendra completed the tally for India when he deflected a Chandi into the Italian goal.
India threatened to score more goals and on two occasions came close but Shivendra and Sunil lacked in finishing.
With this win, India are currently at the top of men's pool with six points from two outings. Even though France has same points as India, they occupy a close second position because of their inferior goal difference.
India will next play France on Tuesday after a rest day on Tuesday, while the Italians will be up against Poland.
Indian hockey team to get Rs 25 lakh for reaching final
New Delhi: New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) The Indian hockey team will get Rs 25 lakh from Bharat Hotels Limited for doing a stupendous job in the ongoing Champions Challenge I tournament in
South Africa, where they have reached the final.
India did not lose a single match en route the final, which they are slated to play against Belgium later on Sunday in Johannesburg.
Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and Managing Director Bharat Hotels Limited (Hotel Lalit) announced the prize money through Hockey India.