India in final but worries persist
AT LAST In gold-medal tie after 12 years, to face rivals Pakistan after solitary-goal win over South Korea
INCHEON: As the weather turned from pleasant to cold, Terry Walsh’s boys created a flutter by defeating South Korea by a solitary goal to enter the men’s hockey final at the Asian Games after a gap of 12 years.
It was at Busan in 2002 that the two-time continental champions had reached the final, only to lose to the hosts. On a windy, overcast evening, with the temperature dropping sharply, India took sweet revenge, setting up a mouth-watering sub-continental title clash with Pakistan after 24 years. The last time they played in the final was in the Beijing (1990) where Pakistan won the title. There were still quite a few loose ends on Tuesday, but at least the team seemed to have “built a structure”, as Walsh said after the match. Missing goals aplenty from an arm’s length continued and the nervousness in the closing minutes was all too apparent.
But there was also the urgency to strengthen the defence after the 1-2 group stage loss to Pakistan a few days back. Having thrashed Korea 3-0 in the World Championships at The Hague, the confidence was high but the only thing troubling the team management was Korea’s invincibility on home ground.
AKASHDEEP SCORES
That lay in tatters, when in the 44th minute Akashdeep Singh trapped the ball barely 10 yards from the goalmouth and slapped it in with his back to the goalkeeper in one swift action.
That India waited so long to open the account was due to a gilt-edged opportunity being allowed to slip by Dharamveer Singh in just the fifth minute of play. A breakaway move created by Sardar Singh searched out SV Sunil near the circle. Sunil’s diagonal ball, which beat the onrushing goalkeeper, to Dharamveer was timed to perfection. But the forward, who just had to tap it into an open goal, failed to trap the ball.
Two successive penalty corners in the 19th minute saw VR Raghunath’s drag-flick being palmed off by the goalkeeper and the rebound going to Dharamveer, whose shy went wide off the mark.
There were a couple of halfchances but Ramandeep Singh (26th minute) and Gurvinder Singh Chandi shot wide as the Korean goalkeeper narrowed down the angle.
Korea were awarded a penalty corner in the 47th minute, but an Indian protest saw the umpire discussing the issue with his counterpart and finally awarding a free hit to the hosts.
Losing ground in the dying minutes has been India’s bane for long despite successive foreign coaches trying to iron out the flaw. On Tuesday, it became all too apparent again with the defenders nervously trying to clear the ball. It’s another thing that the Korean attack did not have the sting to make capital of India’s loose ends.
Coach Walsh agreed the match had become close in the closing minutes. “But the most important thing was the energy we brought into the game after losing to Pakistan. Several players stepped higher on the performance ladder and I am happy that we have finally found a structure.”
He added that three backto-back tournaments — World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games — had taken a toll on the players. “It’s difficult to cope with three tournaments....”