August 26, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 27, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

GNIEZNO (Poland), Aug 25: Penalty corner striker Sandeep Singh struck a spectacular hat trick to propel India to 5-0 victory over hapless Pakistan to lift the six-nation Challenge Open Under-21 hockey championship on Sunday.

Sandeep blasted goals in 15th, 51st, 54th to complete three in a row feat and and added the fourth goal in 68th minute. Skipper Prabodh Tirkey scored the opening goal off an indirect effort.

At the end of the week-long event, Sandeep lifted his goals tally to 12 goals. Indians were leading 2-0 at breather.

The match was halted for couple of minute just before the hooter when a small scuffle broke-out between the player which saw French umpire Micheal Gruson sent-off both the captains Tariq Aziz and Prabodh with yellow cards.

The rock like Indian defence never allowed Pakistan forwards to move freely and maintained their superiority over their arch-rival.

Indian youngsters dominated the play with their consistent attacks at Pakistan goal and it was Sandeep, whose lethal penalty corner which make the difference.

Indian converted five of its six short corners while Pakistan was unable to convert any of four they secured. Like Pakistan team, penalty corner expert Muhammad Imran failed to deliver.

Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa made several changes in a bid to raise his team’s game but it never worked.

Indian got off to a perfect start when Prabodh Tirkey scored off an indirect in the fourth minute and then it was all Sandeep, whose powerful flicks and scoop proved too much for Pakistan goalkeeper Shakir Muneer.

Indian scored their second goal when half-back Asim Khan was sent off with a yellow card . Sandeep converted the second short corner in 14th minute.

Two more goals in space of four minutes midway through the second half by Sandeep gave Indian control of the match.

In the other matches Sunday, Poland overwhelmed Malaysia 8-6 in a highest scoring game of the tournament to finish third. Germany secured fourth spot after beating France 3-2 in a hard fought match. This was France’s fifth successive defeat and they finished at the bottom without a point behind Malaysia.

Earlier on Saturday Pakistan whipped France 6-0.

Pakistan were enjoying a commanding 4-0 advantage at the interval. But like in the other games they were not too impressive in the second half.

Spearhead Shabbir Khan, left in Tariq Aziz both struck a pair goals. Half backs Muhammad Khalid and Imran Khan completed the tally.

The match was marred by some very harsh umpiring which saw as many as five yellow cards including against Tariq and Muhammad Khalid.

In the last game of the day, Indian penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh blasted a four goals including tournament’s first hat trick to blitzed Poland 9-1. Four goals lifted Sandeep at the top of goal-scorer’s list with eight goals.

Talented Sandeep scored in 11th, 31st, 42nd to complete three in row feat and added on more goal in 62nd minute.—APP