India win Bronze Medal at Azlan Shah Cup Hockey
TNI Bureau: After losing to Britain twice in Olympics Test Event Hockey and once in the league stage, India bounced back to win the fourth encounter 3-1 and won the bronze medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Britain, world’s fourth ranked side, had beaten India 3-2 in the league stage. However, today was a different day. Although the Britons took the lead in the 35th minute, when Ashley Jackson scored a goal, that was the last time they smiled.
India dominated the proceedings thereafter and scored the equaliser in the 42nd minute through Shivendra Singh. Sandeep Singh (52nd) and Tushar Khandekar (69th) scored the other goals to power India to a 3-1 victory.
The bronze medal at the Azlan Shah Cup Hockey came as a big boost to India’s lacklustre campaign in Hockey in the last couple of months. The country wants Indian Hockey Team to make it to a podium finish this time.
India, which won 8 gold medals, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals in Olympics Hockey, has failed to win any medal after 1980 Moscow Olympics. It is expected that the 32-year-long drought will end at the 2012 London Olympics.
Latest Update: New Zealand continued their dominating performance, as they beat Argentina 3-1 to win the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament.