KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27: Former champions India are set to take an early flight home after Malaysia proved rude hosts squeezing a 3-2 victory Wednesday in the World Cup Hockey Tournament in a Pool B game.

The brainwork of Malaysia’s German coach Paul Lissek and the on-field heroics of Shankar Shanmugam, Keevan Raj Kali Kavandan and captain Mirnawan Nawawi, effectively sealed India’s chances of making the pre-finals.

India, whose only World Cup victory was in 1975 when Kuala Lumpur first staged the tournament, went into the match determined to take their first full points after a draw against Japan and a defeat to Korea.

Unfortunately all the determination disappeared when the hosts went 2-0 up and not even pouring rain that halted play with 11 minutes to go for half-time helped India’s cause.

When play resumed, half an hour later, the home side strengthened their lead, Nawawi connecting home a pass from Boon Huat Chua for what was by far the best goal of the tournament.

Malaysia, who had started off the competition with a 0-3 loss to 1986 winners Australia followed by Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Japan, had the Indians against the wall as early as the 2nd minute when Shankar scored and then Keevan Raj netted the second 17 minutes later.

After play resumed following the rain interruption, the home side slammed in their third, four minutes from the breather, Nawawi taking the honours.

But India, the former masters of the game, put up a good fight in the second half narrowing Malaysia’s advantage, first to 1-3, Daljit Singh doing it right, and then Prabjot Singh slamming in from a 58th minute short corner.

However, the Indians blew away what was a golden opportunity to pull level, captain Baljit Singh Dhillon being brilliantly thwarted by Roslan Jamaluddin from a penalty stroke in the 62nd minute.

Indian coach Cedric D’Souza defended Baljit at the post-match news conference saying he was the best penalty stroke flicker. “He is my skipper and I have full confidence in him.”

Malaysia, with six points from three matches now have a realistic chance of making it to the semifinals if they continue their winning ways and beat tournament newcomers Cuba, England, Korea and Poland.

The victory pleased Paul Lissek, who said he was “very happy” with the result. “India are a top team in the world and having beaten them is a big achievement for us. I knew that India were going to put us under pressure in the second half but I am glad that our goalkeeper saved the penalty stroke. “Malaysia played great hockey in the first half, however they were slow in the second.”

Cedric D’Souza, clearly disappointed, said India would now have to play for pride. “No matter what the people say or think, this is a good team. We conceded a goal in the early minutes and that puts you under pressure. Malaysia took their chances and it is a question of who converts the chances. Besides the Malaysians are a good defensive unit.”

The Indian manager also had words of praise for the home team’s captain Nawawi who scored the third goal. That was a fantastic one,” he said.