Ipoh: A listless India slumped to a heart-breaking 0-1 defeat to hosts Malaysia in their last league match and bowed out of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here Friday.
Needing to win by a two-goal margin to make the final after Great Britain had edged past New Zealand 3-2 earlier in the day, India failed to produce a cohesive game and suffered their second loss of the tournament.
Finishing with seven points from five matches, India will play New Zealand in the play-off Saturday for the bronze medal, while the title encounter will be between defending champions Australia and Great Britain.
In the day of the underdogs, World No. 16 Japan pulled off a most stunning upset with a 3-2 victory over reigning World Champions Australia, who still remained on course to defend their title by finishing on top of the points table.
Australia have won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup nine times, while Great Britain are in the final after 23 years. The Britons won the title in their lone entry into the final in 1994.
Despite knowing what was expected from them, India failed to make an impression on the Malaysian defence.
After a listless first quarter, India managed to earn three penalty corners in the next 15 minutes, but Malaysian goalkeeper Subramaniam Kumar effected two diving saves, the first one off a Rupinder Pal Singh being brilliant.
Indian defenders fell back to thwart a combined Malaysia raid in the 20th minute. Soon after, Talwinder Singh’s shy at the other end was saved by the Malaysian custodian.
India showed more purpose in the second half, but their attack was not cohesive and the strikers turned out to be error-prone after reaching the top of the circle.
India’s desperation was evident at the start of the last quarter when they took off their goalkeeper and made Harmanpreet Singh the kicker-back. However, it was Malaysia who scored when Shahril Saabah converted the team’s fifth penalty corner.
Press Trust of India
