New Delhi: It was expected to be a one-sided affair and it turned out to be one as favourites India routed minnows Singapore 15-1 to mark a grand opening to their campaign in the men’s hockey Olympic Qualification tournament here on Saturday.
The 41st ranked Singaporeans, who came in as a late replacement for the United States and comprise mostly university students with little experience in international hockey, were no match for the eight-time Olympic champions India as they home team scored goals at will at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. It was a rare exhibition of goal-scoring prowess from the Indians, ranked 10th in the world and top seeded in the tournament, as they found the opposition net six times in the first half and nine times after the change of ends.
For India, Gurvinder Singh Chandi (10th minute, 21st, 40th) scored three, Shivendra Singh (18th, 30th), S V Sunil (54th, 57th) and Danish Mujtaba (25th, 52nd) scored two each, while Sardar Singh (11th), Tushar Khandker (42nd), Sandeep Singh (47th), S K Uthappa (48th) and Yuvraj Walmiki (53rd) and Birendra Lakra (70th) found the net once.
Elifh Enrico Marican(39th) was the lone goal scorer for Singapore.
Inspite of the massive win, penalty corner conversion remains a major concern for India as the hosts managed to convert just one through Sandeep from the six they earned against Singapore on Saturday.
Meanwhile, A second half goal being disallowed, Indian women were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by a lowly Ukraine in their opening match of London Olympics hockey qualifiers at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here today.
Higher-ranked India were rusty in the first half and conceded the early lead to Ukraine in the 26th minute when Maryna Vynohradova found the goal on a direct hit. Soundarya Yendala drew parity for India combining with Kirandeep Kaur in the 42nd minute.
In the 55th minute, the Indian camp burst into celebration when Anuradha Devi Thokchom, standing at the goal post, seemed to have nudged the ball home after Poonam Rani’s shot from inside the ‘D’ went high towards the left corner of the nettings after deflection from Ukraine goalkeeper.
The umpire signalled a legitimate goal but technical officials later ruled it was not a goal apparently because of Anuradha’s high stick position, much to the disappointment of the Indians. (PTI)