India score narrow win over Canada in practice tie

India score narrow win over Canada in practice tie
Agencies

Sydney, September 13: Crafty frontliner Baljit Dhillon and speedy winger Mukesh Kumar scored once each in the first half of play to help India rally from an early goal deficit and record a narrow 2-1 win over Canada in their last warm-up tie in the run-up to the Olympic Hockey competition here on Wednesday.

Each half in the match, which was played on the practice pitch adjacent to the main one, was restricted to 25 minutes duration.

India, who had beaten a Sydney XI 3-2 in a practice game on Monday, will now have a few more practice sessions before opening its Group B campaign against Argentina, their bugbear at the last Games in Atlanta four years ago, on September 17.

In a match played on the new, bouncy practice pitch, Canada struck through Masher before the Indians had settled down, following a fine, concerted move down the left flank.

Stung by the early reverse India launched acounter-attack, Mukesh Kumar raced down the right flank and provided a cross to Pillay who was bodily blocked by the Canadian custodian.

The resultant penalty-stroke was converted without any fuss by Dhillon who scooped the ball to the roof of the net.

But the Canadians were not idle. They forced a penalty-corner in the 8th minute but Pillay, charging out, brought off a fine save.

At the other end Mukesh Kumar, playing in the inside right position, was off again with the ball and from almost the goalline sent it across but it went too fast for the speedy Pillay to connect.

But the Indians were not to be denied for long. Dhillon moved in from the left and, in the ensuing goalmouth melee, Mukesh Kumar managed to push the ball in through a tangle of legs.

Though the second session was barren, it provided a fine opportunity for coach Baskaran to try out the younger lot like Sameer Dad and he appeared satisfied with his team's display.

``That was a good match for us,'' he told the handful of Indian journalists after the match.

Though conceding that a coach was never satisfied till the team produces the necessary results, Baskaran said, ``we tried more things like sharper ball running and opening up the flanks. I am satisfied our strategies are working out fine.''

Malaysia down Argentina: Malaysia, heading for a tough opening match against Germany on Saturday, played with tight marking when it beat Argentina in its final practice match.

Coach Stephen Van Huizen played down the victory.

``We cannot read the results but it helps the boys to bein the right frame of mind before the tournament proper,'' he said.

S Kuhan flicked in the solitary goal on a penalty corner in the 50th minute.

In earlier friendly matches, the Malaysians lost 1-0 to Poland and beat Spain 2-1.

Malaysia, which finished 11th in the 1996 Games, is in Pool A with Canada, Britain, Germany, the defending champion Netherlands and Pakistan.

Another lakhpati offer for hockey team

NEW DELHI: Just two days before the start of the Olympics, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has netted another sponsor which has come forward to back the winning horse.

A pen manufacturer on Wednesday announced a cash award of Rs 50 lakh if the Indian hockey team wins gold at Sydney. For winning the silver or bronze the team will get Rs 11 lakh and Rs five lakh respectively.

Earlier a consumer durable giant had announced a similar award.

The company also handed over a draft for Rs. five lakh to IHF president KPS Gill.

Later speaking to mediapersons, Gill said he was happy with the final build-up of the team. He said the morale of the team was high as they had defeated Canada 2-1 in today's practice match.

Asked whether pool rivals Korea and Australia can frustrate India's chances at the Games, he said Korea lost to England in a practice match and Australian commentrators themselves say that their team had not been able to work together the winning combination well.

Welcoming the sponsorship money coming into the game, Gill said if the federation can get Rs five crore per annum it can produce world beaters.

He said the programme has been initiated to prepare the team for the 2008 Olympics.

Gill also released a special motivational song composed for the Indian hockey team by Louis Banks and sung by Vinod Rathore.