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Down Under disaster for Indian hockey

Bruce Hamilton

Politicians say a week is a long time in politics. The saying applies to the Canadian men's hockey team which played at the Olympic test event in Sydney.

Last Sunday, Canada drew 1-1 with Korea to win the Australia Cup in the four-nation competition. Australia were third and India fourth.

This Sunday, Canada played-off against India for the wooden spoon in the Olympic test event in Sydney, this time taking the third place with a 5-3 win, after being down 3-2 early in the second half.

India fell to last place in Canberra and came into the game against Canada with a loss against Australia (3-5) and a win over Canada (3-2) and a draw with Korea (0-0) earlier in the week. Canada's record was two losses to India (2-3) and Korea (2-3) and a 1-all draw with Australia.

Australia edged past South Korea 2-1 to clinch the gold medal.

On the statistics, India had a better goal difference of 6 for, 7 against. Canada had 5 goals for, 7 against.

In cool, steady, rain the Canadian and India teams stood for their respective national anthems at 2:30 pm, shortly before the 110,000 sell out crowd at Stadium Australia nearby stood for the Australian national anthem to commence the final of the rugby league competition.

The first five minutes, Canada controlled the ball, keeping India pinned in its half with the hockey equivalent of a full court press.

When India made it's first run into Canada's half, it was through Baljit Singh Chandi. This youngster has had difficulty adjusting to the pace of international hockey on this tour, but turned this around by combining well with Samir Dad to work the ball along the right wing to the circle.

Chandi's cross was not collected by Dad in front of goal. However, Deepak Takhur worked the ball to the edge of the circle from the left and struck a hard backstick shot along the ground direct to the pads of Mike Mahood in the Canadian goal. Mahood failed to stop the shot and India went ahead 1-0 in the sixth minute.

Canada replied a minute later with a penalty-corner conversion by captain Peter Milkovich's drag-flick high to the left of Edward Aloysius in the seventh minute.

Baljit Singh Chandi and Gagan Ajit Singh combined well to attack the circle from the half way. With only Mahood in goal to beat, Singh could not control the ball to make his shot on goal.

Canada scored their go-ahead goal through Peter Wettlaufer in the 14th minute. Robin D'Abreo took a free hit just outside the Indian circle, finding the stick of Wettlaufer, whose simple deflection into goal went past the left knee of Edward Aloysius in goal.

India were stung into attack. Deepak Thakur on the left, Gagan Ajit Singh and Samir Dad in the middle and Baljit Singh Chandi on the right lifted their work rate. Sukhbir Singh Gill and Samir Dad had scoring chances defeated by excellent goal tending by Mike Mahood.

The crowd of 4000 was entertained by quality hockey for the remainder of the first half and the teams took the break with Canada leading 2-1.

India came onto the park after the break with renewed purpose and commitment. Dilip Tirkey slotted a penalty-corner conversion five minutes into the second period, deftly hitting past the feet of the logged Mahood, after Dilip Thakur was brought down in the circle to earn the corner. India were back in the game with the score even at 2-all.

They went ahead 3 - 2 a minute later when Dilip Thakur deflected a pass from Baljit Singh Chandi to the pads of Mike Mahood, collected the rebound and scored.

Mike Mahood was replaced by Hari Kant in the 48th minute.

India's defensive team in the second period was Dilip Tirkey and Dinesh Nayak, with Thirumalavan lurking in defence on the left. Mohd Riaz took duty in the midfield to good effect with Sukhbir Singh Gill.

Canada commenced to grind down India's defence with a gritty display of never-say-die hockey as India packed its defence. They equalised with a penalty-corner conversion by Rob Short in the 56th minute and went ahead with a penalty-stroke conversion in the 64th minute to Peter Milkovich, awarded by Dutch umpire, Peter Elder who adjudged that Dinesh Nayak had prevented a goal with his foot. Milkovich put the stroke high and to the left of Jude Menezes, who had replaced Edward Aloysius three minutes earlier. It appeared Aloysius had a stomach cramp rather than an injury.

India earned four penalty-corners but converted none in the period from the 65th to the 69th minutes.

Canada were awarded a penalty-corner with 35 seconds to play. Peter Milkovich took the drag-flick which Jude Menzes batted down to find Andrew Griffith who back sticked the bouncing ball back past Menezes for the final goal and a scoreline of 5-3 to Canada.

After the game, Canadian coach, Shiaz Vijee had a message for the hockey players left behind in Canada. "If you want to be part of the ride to the Olympics you better work harder than you have been doing at home because some of the boys over here have shown they can play and belong in the national team for the Olympics," he said.

India's coach and players refused to speak with the media for the second time in as many days, leaving the public to speculate on what may have been on their minds, before, during and after the game.