Silver for hockey teams at Youth Olympic Games
Girls lose to Argentina while India boys gift tight game to Malaysia
BUENOSAIRES: The India under-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams finished their 2018 Youth Olympic Games campaign with silver medals.
While the women suffered a heart-breaking 3-1 loss against hosts Argentina, the men were handed a 4-2 loss by Malaysia in their respective finals of the hockey 5s competition on Sunday night.
In the women’s affair, India’s Mumtaz Khan (1’) opened the scoring after just 49 seconds, but the hosts scored thrice through Gianella Palet (7’), Sofia Ramallo (9’) and Brisa Bruggesser (12’) to secure the gold medal.
Indian women began the first period well, attacking the hosts right from the opening whistle, and were rewarded after just 49 seconds as in-form forward Mumtaz scored to give her team a crucial lead.
However, Argentina put the pressure on their opponents to find the equaliser in front of the home crowd and were successful as Gianella Palet (7’) and Sofia Ramallo (9’) scored to turn the match around and help their side to a 2-1 lead at half-time.
The second period saw Argentina keep possession, not allowing the Indian team to find space or create chances. It was Argentina’s Brisa Bruggesser who had the first real chance of the second period in the 12th minute, and the midfielder made sure that she hit the target, giving her team a solid 3-1 lead. Argentina kept possession and saw themselves through.
WASTING LEAD
In the men’s contest, India captain Vivek Sagar Prasad (3’, 6’) scored twice within the first six minutes of the match to give India a 2-1 lead, but the Malaysians struck thrice in the second period through Akhimullah Anuar (14’, 19’) and Arif Ishak (17’) to secure the victory, after Firadus Rosdi (5’) had equalised for them in the first period.
India struck first through Vivek in the 3rd minute. However, Malaysia were not behind for too long as Firadus Rosdi threatened the Indians in the 5th minute, and struck the equalizer in his second attempt to make the scores 1-1.
The Indian skipper forced a save from the Malaysian goal- keeper Shahrul Saupi in the sixth minute and then managed to beat the Malaysian in the same minute to give India the lead again.
The second period, however, turned out to be a difficult one for the Indian team. After having denied Malaysia an opportunity to level scores, Indian goalkeeper Prashant Chauhan was beaten for the second time in the match in the 14th minute as Akhimullah Anuar scored past him to make the scores 2-2.
Malaysia took the lead on the counter in the 17th minute through Arif Ishak. Having taken a 3-2 lead, Malaysian team started to dominate , and it was Akhimullah Anuar who popped up again in the 19th minute to seal the gold medal win.
ARCHERS ADVANCE
Archers Akash Malik and Himani Kumari advanced to pre-quarterfinal rounds in archery. Akash defeated Canadian Benjamen Lee in the shootoff of his round one contest in recurve cadet men’s individual event.
Himani had an easy first round outing, cruising past Jil Walter of Samoa 7-1 in women’s recurve cadet individual event.