A Spirited India broke their 33
year old medal jinx in a major International tournament as they came back from
two goals down to stun defending champions Netherlands in the shootout after
both the teams were tied at 5-5 at regulation time in a thrilling bronze medal
play-off match of the Hockey World League Final in Raipur.
India last won a medal in an
International tournament way back in 1982 when they beat Pakistan 5-4 in the Champions
trophy in Amsterdam. In the shootout, the Indians prevailed over the Dutch 3-2
at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium and win avenged India’s 1-3 defeat against
the Netherland in the pool stages in the tournament here. After starting the
match on a slow note, India produced a fine show in the last two quarters to
beat the world number two side with their relentless attacks in the second
half.
Netherlands were quick to take a
2-0 lead in the first half. It was high intensity match which produced as many
as six goals in the last 10 minutes, three each to India and Netherlands. The Indians
got their acts together after the change of ends and Ramandeep Singh scored
from a field strike before Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty corner in the
47th minute to level the scores.
It was raining goals as India took
the lead in the next minute when Akshdeep Singh found the back of the Dutch net
to give India 5-3 lead. But the Dutchmen did not sit back and fought back
valiantly to score two goals in the last two minutes to take the match into
shoot-out. Final match was won by Australia beating Belgium by 2-1 in Raipur.
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