India end 10year Asia Cup wait

CHAMPIONS AGAIN India edge out resolute Malaysia 21 in final to lift the trophy for first time since 2007 in Chennai

DHAKA: India ended their 10-year wait for continental triumph when they beat a gutsy Malaysia 2-1 in a nail-biting final to clinch their third Asia Cup on Sunday.

India, who won the Asia Cup last time in 2007 in Chennai, scored through Ramandeep Singh (3rd minute) and Lalit Upadhyay (29th). Malaysia scored in the 50th minute through Shahril Saabah.

The Indians, ranked sixth in the world, were in for a nervous last ten minutes but the defence did enough to hold on to the lead.

For India’ new coach Marijne Sjoerd, it was a perfect start . Pakistan won the bronze medal after edging out Korea 6-3 in the thirdfourth place play-off match earlier. India finished unbeaten, having won all matches except for the 1-1 draw against Korea in the Super 4 stage.

India took the lead through Ramandeep, who scored from a rebound after his initial deflection from SV Sunil’s cross hit the post. Chinglensana Singh’s reverse hit from close range then went wide as India wasted a golden chance.

Malaysia secured their first penalty corner in the 13th minute but wasted it, minutes before Harmanpreet Singh was denied by Razie Rahim’s goalline save.

Lalit doubled India’s lead by deflecting home Sumit’s reverse hit cross from the left flank. After wasting their second penalty corner, Malaysia pulled one back when Saabah scored from close range in the 50th minute.

CHINA SECURE MAIDEN CUP BERTH, KOREA OUT

China will be competing in the World Cup for the first time ever after they pipped South Korea to qualify for the 2018 edition in India. China’s place was confirmed on Saturday when South Korea drew 1-1 with Malaysia.

This will be the first time since 1998 that South Korea will not take part in the World Cup. Under FIH regulations, the team that wins its continental qualifier automatically qualifies for the World Cup. However, as both India, as hosts, and Malaysia - who finished fourth at the Hero Hockey World League Semi-final in London earlier this year - have already qualified, a World Cup qualification spot opened up for the team next in line that had not yet qualified for the event.

That team was China, courtesy an eighth place finish in the World League Semi-final. Korea finished one place below China in London, and only a win in the Asia Cup could have helped them qualify.

* Last Asia Cup's position in brackets

* Bangladesh beat China 4-3 in tie-breaker after match ended 3-3.