Gutsy India lose to Australia in final
London : The Indian hockey team settled for a silver medal in its best ever Champions Trophy performance after the spirited side went down 1-3 to world champions Australia in a controversy-marred summit clash penalty shootout here.
Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score in the shootout, while SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar all hit wide off the target. Just four attempts were required from the two teams as Australia had gained a winning 3-1 lead.
Aran Zalewski, Daniel Beale and Simon Orchard scored for Australia, while Trent Mitton’s try was blocked by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. India thus improved on its bronze medal show in the 1982 edition.
There was plenty of drama in the shootout as Beale’s shot was re-taken after he failed to score and sought a video review. The video umpire asked the shot to be taken again, leaving Indian coach Roelant Oltmans fuming on the sidelines.
At the end of the match, India protested against the second successful attempt awarded to Beale, delaying the final announcement on the result of the match.
The officials assembled to decide on India’s appeal as trophies were removed from the ground and fans also left the stadium.
After discussing the appeal for more than an hour, the jury declared that there was unintentional obstruction on part of Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in the seventh second thus the re-take of the shot was justified.
Fancied Australia, looking for their 14th Champions Trophy title, faced a stiff fight from the Indians, who were playing their first final, but raised the level to come within striking distance of the title.
Australia wasted a penalty stroke in the second quarter and India failed to capitalise on their superiority in numbers when Australia were down to nine men for a short while in the third quarter.
India made the first foray into the circle in the ninth minute when Mandeep Singh broke in from the right flank and his shot rebounded off Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter.
The ball went to Uthappa, who had the opportunity to have a measured crack at the goal, but sent a rushed reverse hit wide to the right.
In the next minute, Australia laid siege on the Indian citadel through four successive penalty corners, but goalkeeper Sreejesh brought off two fine saves. In the end, it was defender Surender Kumar who rushed out to block the penalty corner flick and the ball went out of the circle.
‘Will carry confidence to Rio’
London: India hockey coach Roeland Oltmans is delighted at his team’s outstanding performance at the Champions Trophy and said it will boost their confidence to produce a better show at the Rio Olympic Games. India settled for a silver medal in its best ever Champions Trophy performance after the spirited side went down 1-3 to world champions Australia in a summit clash penalty shootout here last night.
Oltmans praised his team for putting up a fine show after making their first appearance in the final of the showpiece event in the annual calendar. India had held Australia goalless in regulation period.
“I’m delighted with my team. By all yardsticks, their performance the final was outstanding,” said Oltmans.
“I am proud of what we’ve been doing as a team. Our performance is getting better with every tournament. Any coach would be absolutely pleased with this Indian show.
“We’ll use the confidence gained here at the Champions Trophy to give a better display in the Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro,” Oltmans said.
Oltmans said the way India performed in the title contest has boosted his faith of a fine show in the Olympics.
“Look at the way the boys raised their game to play a competitive final. It was just a day after we lost 2-4 to Australia in the league match,” said Oltmans.
