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India down Canada

Bruce Hamilton

The Indian hockey team, which lost all its matches in Canberra last week, today redeemed itself by defeating Canada 3-2 in the Olympics test tournament in Sydney.

India absorbed all the pressure Canada could apply in the first ten minutes. However, they regrouped later, held possession and matched the tough physical tactics of Canada.

Canada did not have the sharpness they displayed in Canberra last week when they defeated India 2-1. Quickness to the ball and interception of lazy Canadian passes characterised the Indian game.

Mohd. Riaz and Gagan Ajit Singh combined on one occasion with four passes between them on the right to work the ball from the half line to the circle. The precision and crispness of the passes left the Canadian defence befuddled.

On another occasion, Gagan Ajit Singh worked the ball through the Canadians Robin D'Abreo and Scott Mosher, with neither able to get a stick to the ball, allowing Singh to run to the circle and pass.

Anwar Khan opened the scoring for India when a shot on goal rebounded from the pads of Canadian goalkeeper Mike Mahmood and was not cleared from in front of Mahmood's pads. Khan had an easy push into the middle of the net over Mahmood.

Canada's defence tightened but could not prevent a slashing run of Thirumalavan along the backline, nor Deepak Thakur through the left side of the circle.

The second half saw Canada equalise with a field goal by Canadian captain Peter Milkovich, to have coach V. Bhaskaran worried that the "Canberra" syndrome may reappear.

It was not to be, as Deepak Thakur and Gagan Ajit Singh put the result beyond doubt with field goals as India controlled the game.

For the second time in as many games, Canada scored in the last seconds of the half. Peter Milkovich scored his second field goal with 12 seconds left in the game to flatter the Canadian team with a close result.

In fact, India had the measure of Canada for all but the first 10 minutes.

Nevertheless, coach V. Bhaskaran will be telling his boys again that they have lapsed their focus and concentration in the last minutes of the half as they did in Canberra.

India will take great heart from this win against Canada, who won the Australia Cup four-nation tournament in Canberra last Sunday. The challenge is for India to repeat tonight's good performance against hosts Australia on Thursday and Asian Games opponents South Korea on Saturday to win a berth in the play-off for first and second late on Sunday evening Sydney time.

A sensation occurred after the conclusion of the India v Canada game.

Sydney's Olympic complex suffered a torrential down-pour and hail as a result of an electrical storm in the area. The next game, between the women's teams from Australia and China commenced but was suspended after 10 minutes. Play recommenced two-and-a-half hours later.

The question on the lips of everyone is whether they will see weather like this in exactly 12 months time, during the first week of the Sydney Olympic Games.