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| June 9, 2003 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 8, 1424 |
India down Kookaburras to clinch title
SYDNEY, June 8: India capped a hectic two-week tour of Australia with a 5-3 win on Sunday over the the home country in the final while Pakistan were once again humiliated by Australia ‘A’ 5-2 in the playoff of tri-nation challenge hockey tournament here.
The Indian win made up for a 2-1 loss to Australia in the final of the first tournament in Perth a week ago.
Australian striker Troy Elder shone with a hat-trick in Sunday’s showdown, including a last-minute penalty goal.
But India, capitalising on some sloppy defending by the Kookaburras, had made certain of victory well before then.
The visitors went ahead in the 29th minute when defender Jugraj Singh netted off a penalty corner.
Striker Gagan Ajit Singh goaled two minutes later for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Prabjot Singh was on target for India in the 39th and 64th minutes and Baljit Singh Dhillon completed their tally in the 65th minute.
Pakistan, who were routed 5-3 in the league match and then in the playoff 2-1 by Australian second-string team in the first leg of the tour, were shocked when Ben Bishop slammed home in the very first minute of the game.
Rehan Butt equalised for Pakistan in the 24th minute to finish the first session deadlocked at 1-1.
Lucas Judge again took Australia ahead with a 37th-minute strike which was followed by Grant Schubert goal the very next minute.
Nathan Eglington struck fourth goal for the Kookaburras in the 52nd minute. Shakeel Abbasi reduced the margin for the visitors in the 53rd minute.
But a Tristram Woodhouse goal ten minutes later sealed the fate of the game which ended in another ignominy for the Pakistanis who, like in the first leg, once again finished fourth in the second three-nation event.—AFP
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