WAC: India set up Korean date in semis
 |
| India |
February 4, 2004
Times of India, India
> Page Views 1689
VINEETA PANDEY
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
NEW DELHI: The Kazakhstan women's hockey team, playing in the 5th Asia Cup tournament, is very presentable and attractive. But only in appearance. Their hockey left a lot to be desired.
Playing against India on the National Stadium Astro-turf, they looked like schoolgirls on a picnic. Pony tails, French plaits, boy-cuts, bandanas, head scarfs...all the eleven players had different hairstyles. But their game did not match their looks and they got thrashed 0-8 in their last Group A league match on Tuesday.
India, who finished on top of the league table, now take on South Korea in the first semifinal on Thursday while Japan, who finished Group B leaders after beating Korea 4-3, clash with China in the other semifinal. China thrashed Malaysia 7-1 while Singapore beat Sri Lanka 1-0.
Playing for the top pool position, India hardly found any resistance from Kazakhstan. India's goal-rush started with a brace by Surinder Kaur. She opened the account in the very first minute itself, scoring after combining with Mamta Kharab before making it 2-0 two minutes later.
Coach MK Kaushik's observation that Kazakhs play a defensive game proved accurate. Thus, Indians had planned an attacking game. However, the attacking could bear limited fruit as their penalty corner conversion remained abysmal. A dozens PCs fell in their lap, nine went abegging. Captain Surajlata Devi converted one in the 22nd minute, while Sanggai Chanu scored through two PCs - in the 36th and 60th minutes. Youngster Saba Anjum scored off a pass from Chanu in the 46th minute for India's fifth goal while Adline Kerketta braved an injury to her eyebrow and went on to score two goals in a row in the 50th and 51st minutes.
Riding on their four goals from the first half, Japan survived a late fight-back from defending champions South Korea to prevail 4-3.
Japan got going with a fifth-minute goal by Tomomi Komori off a brilliant cross from Yukari Yamamoto. Sachimi Iwao (16th), Sakee Morimoto (19th) and Naoko Saito (25th) scored at regular intervals to make it seemingly safe.
South Korea muffed a penalty stroke during their late second-half resurgence but managed to get two goals through PCs converted by Han Hye Lyoung (50th) and Oh Sun Soon (67) while Nam Jin scored the last one in the last minute.
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
