SHARAD DEEP

JAKARTA: It wasn’t India’s day in the men’s hockey competition here on Thursday. Their perennial weakness of conceding goals in dying minutes came to the fore again, as they lost to spirited Malaysia 2-2 (6-7) in penalty shootout in the semi-final. India now face Pakistan in the bronze medal match on Saturday after Japan rode Shota Yamada’s 18th minute strike to defeat them 1-0.

Experienced drag-flicker Razie Muhammad Rahim converted Malaysia’s fifth penalty corner into goal, a minute and 41 seconds before the final hooter to draw parity at 2-2, leaving Indians licking their wounds, at the GBK Hockey Field.

And thereafter, it was Malaysia’s turn to stage a comeback.

In penalty shootout, Fitri Mohd Saari, Firhan Muhammad Ashari scored two goals each, whereas Azuan Muhamad Meor, Faizal Saari and Ahmad Tengku Tajuddin scored a goal each.

For India, Akashdeep Singh converted twice, whereas Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh shared three goals between them. It was SV Sunil, who missed the final chance for the side.

The loss turned out to be a big shock for many, including coach Harendra Singh.

India were aiming for a top finish here to get direct entry to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and having beaten Malaysia 2-1 at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games a couple of months back, they were the outright favourites before start. But it didn’t go as planned.

SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh and Mandeep Singh passed the

FULL MARKS TO MALAYSIA GOALKEEPER SUBRAMIAN KUMAR WHO USED ALL HIS EXPERIENCE TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS AGAINST SUNIL ON THE LAST SHOT OF THE DAY