AAG: Indian eves shock Korea
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| India |
October 29, 2003
Deccan Herald
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India … 3 Korea … 0
South Africa … 4 China … 0
Kenya … 2 Ghana … 1
Kazakhstan … 2 Nigeria … 0
Not many had given the Indian girls a chance. Not even coach M K Kaushik. But the hosts, led by a creditable display from goal-keeper Helen Mary and their forwards’ fine work, scored a stunning win over South Korea in the women’s hockey competition of the Afro-Asian Games here.
The 3-0 win under lights at the Gachibowli Sports Complex earned the Indians a place in the gold medal round. In the final on Thursday, the hosts take on African champions South Africa. In the other semifinal between the continental champions, South Africa inflicted a big defeat on Asian Games gold medallists China earlier in the day.
Coach Kaushik had said that they were looking at the China match (bronze medal) than the final the other day. He was right, for, India have never scored over the Koreans in a major championships following their victory in the ’82 Games in New Delhi. Thereafter, the Indians have never been able to solve the Korean puzzle. But backed by a vociferous crowd and splendid work by ’keeper Mary in the closing stages of the match, the Indians put it across their more fancied rivals in a match that never rose above the mediocre. For, tension was palpable as both played a scrappy match and missed a couple of chances.
The Koreans, missing some of their key players, allowed the Indians to dictate terms after their early domination. They pressed ahead and their persistent forays bore fruit in the dying minutes of the first half, Surinder Kaur scoring off a penalty corner to spark off a celebration in the stands.
Sanggai Chanu then got a deflection to a Suman Bala penalty corner hit in the 38th minute to swell India’s tally to 2-0. Jyothi Kullu completed the rout in the 69th minute. In between, Indian ’keeper Mary saved a penalty stroke in the 55th minute taken by Byoung Ju Sin when Subhadra Pradhan was guilty of fouling a goalbound hit.
A little later, Mary made another save, this time off a penalty corner hit taken by Youn Hee Leg in the 63rd minute which set off chants of ‘Come On India’ in the stands. India get a chance to avenge their defeat in the league phase when the clash with the African champions on Thursday.
In other play-off matches, Kenya edged out Ghana 2-1, while Kazakhstan defeated Nigeria 2-0.
The men’s semifinal matches will be played tomorrow.
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