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Sluggish India beat Hong Kong 5-0

It was another tale of missed chances as a sluggish India beat Hong Kong 5-0 in its concluding Group B match of the Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur today.

The victory meant that India, who had drawn 1-1 with Malaysia in their previous match on Saturday, topped the group with seven points from three matches. However, they will know their semi-final opponents only after Pakistan plays South Korea in the concluding match of Group A on Wednesday.

Earlier Bangladesh whipped Sri Lanka 7-1 in a Group A match.

India went ahead in the second minute itself after Anurag Raghuvanshi scored from a penalty-corner after Dhanraj Pillay was obstructed when ideally placed to score. As Hong Kong have been the whipping boys of the tournament, immediately it appeared that the flood gates would open. However, as is their wont, the Indian forwards time and again fumbled inside the circle.

Dhanraj Pillay was again in the thick of things in the 20th minute. He initiated a good move and found Deepak Thakur inside the circle. The latter reverse flicked in a flash into goal to put India 2-0 up.

But a 2-0 lead was all that India could manage at the breather. With Dilip Tirkey rested for the match, India missed a penalty-corner specialist and that was one reason why they were able to score just once from the ten penalty-corners they forced. But had Pillay, Gagan Ajit and Deepak Thakur capitalised on even half the chances they got, India could well have finished with a dozen goals.

Bimal Lakra and Baljit Singh Dhillon scored in quick succession on resumption before Pillay could complete the rout late 15minutes from time.

In the last ten minutes Hong Kong packed their defence, thus preventing the Indian forwards from having a clear look at goal.

Yesterday, South Korea and Pakistan registered thumping victories. The Koreans whipped Sri Lanka 9-0 while Pakistan whipped China 10-1.