New Delhi: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh continued his goal-scoring spree as he scored a hat-trick to guide favourites India to a convincing 6-2 win over France in an enthralling match of the men’s hockey Olympic Qualification tournament, here on Tuesday.
It was India’s third consecutive win. India earned four penalty corners in the match and Sandeep (9th minute, 30th, 37th) converted two of them while scoring his third from a penalty stroke. Shivendra Singh (4th), S V Sunil (39th) and Tushar Khandker (62nd) score the other three goals for the home team, while Lucas Sevestre (35th) and Fabien Magner (57th) converted two penalty corners for the French team.
By virtue of two today’s three goals, Sandeep has moved to the top of the goal-scorers tally with seven strikes. With this win, India moved to the top of the men’s pool with nine points from three matches while France dropped to the third spot on goal-difference even though they have same six points as second-placed Canada.
Indian eves beat Poland
India eves on Tuesday reached the top of the pool, ahead of South Africa after their 3-0 mauling of a lowly Poland, ranked 28th in the world.
India women’s team coach C R Kumar was satisfied with the 3-0 victory over Poland in the Olympics hockey qualifiers but said the low rate of penalty corners conversions remain a concern for the hosts.
“We are getting better with each match and with this win we have reached the top of the table and I am happy with the efforts of the girls,” he told reporters after the match at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium. (PTI)
