Indians win three more medals in Asian Junior Weightlifting

New Delhi: India added three more medals with Vikas Thakur winning a silver and two bronze in men`s 77kg category on the second day of Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships at Pattaya, Thailand on Saturday.

Vikas won a silver in snatch with a effort of 133kg while he had to settle for a bronze each in clean and jerk (151kg) and total lift (284kg).

Somboon Suchat of Thailand ran away with three gold with efforts of 135kg, 170kg and 305kg in snatch, clean and jerk and total lift respectively.

With Saturday`s three medals, India`s tally in Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships has swelled to seven with one silver and six bronze.

India had won four bronze medals on the opening day on Friday with Sanjita Chanu winning three in women`s 48kg and Yukar Sibi bagging another in men`s 62kg.

India are being represented by 15 lifters, including seven women, in the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships.

It had won nine silver medals in the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championship which preceded the junior event.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 18:14

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Indo-Pak rivalry at forefront in Asian Champions Trophy final

Ordos (China): Their confidence sky-high after an unbeaten run in the league stage, a vivacious India will lock horn with arch-rivals Pakistan in what promises to be a cracker of a final in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Sunday.

After their pulsating 2-2 draw in the group match on Friday, the stage is set for another thrilling encounter between the traditional rivals.

In the group match, India fought back after being 0-2 down as both teams played a cautious game intent on reaching the final.

Sunday should see a thriller as both have nothing to lose, though the hockey fans in both the nations would love to see their respective teams to triumph.

India have done well to reach the final. Critics and a host of former players believed that the team without the stars will not be able to deliver. But Michael Nobbs' team has surprised many.

India is the only unbeaten team in the championship and with a goal difference of +7, it is ahead of the others in the scoring department.

The forward line has been India's biggest trump card in the Champions Trophy. From the moment, they beat China 5-0, the momentum was there to piggy back on.

Twice, India has fought back from deficits - against Malaysia they were losing 1-2 and drew the match 2-2. Against Pakistan they were down 0-2 and fought back with two goals.

It is that spirit that India would play on in the final against Pakistan.

"This team has handled pressure like pros. They needed an incentive and now the team has got it by playing a final. Whatever the result, we will throw everything into the match," India's coach Nobbs said.

If the Indian team management has to worry about something, it is the failure to convert the penalty corners. Nobbs is not too worried but does admit that the players do come under pressure.

India has had 23 penalty corners in the tournament and has only scored thrice. Rupinder Pal Singh apart from scoring off two PC's has also converted a stroke against South Korea.

"The problem is not about conversion, it's about the rusher coming directly at the flicker," said Nobbs.

"It's a FIH directive that the rusher should not run directly to the flicker. So what happens is that Pakistan is
running straight to the flicker.”

"I will probably have a talk with the umpires and it is clear they are not reviewing the matches. But when our rusher ran straight, the umpire hauled him up. There needs to be a clear consistent line in umpiring."

But it's not only about the inconsistency of rules. India has failed to trap the ball neatly for the flicker to have a go and against Pakistan, every penalty corner will be worth its weight in gold.

Nobbs is very clear about the final that the Indians will throw everything into attack.

"We don't play for draws or defensive. We go for wins and we go for goals," he said.

This line of playing attacking hockey has been consistent with the Indian team. Or as Nobbs says, "fortune favours the brave."

Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran does feel the pressure of an India-Pakistan final.

"The public wants both the countries to win. Unfortunately, only one nation can win and that adds to the pressure. But we will go all out and ensure that good and attacking hockey in the true Asian style is played," he said.

Pakistan has a lethargic defence and sometimes it is seen that they have been slow in warding off counter-attacks. Imran believes the final will be a different ball game.

"All finals are different," he says. "The group match was a bit tense as both teams wanted to go through to the final," he explained.

"But the final will be attacking and the team that converts will win."

Haseem Abdul Khan, a youngster playing as a forward with the Pakistan team says it is a golden chance for the young players.

"For us playing a final against India is fantastic," he says with obvious pride. "If we win, our confidence will get a boost as we have already qualified for the 2012 London Olympics."

Written off by many back home before the Indians landed in Ordos, the entry into the final hasn't surprised coach Michael Nobbs.

"I was very nervous when we came here," admits Nobbs.
"But after the match against China, I knew we were good. I am glad that investing in the youngsters has paid off. So reaching the final is not a surprise anymore."

Nobbs believes that the players will not buckle under pressure of playing Pakistan in the final. "The pressure will be on me," he says.

"It's my first final as coach of India against Pakistan (laughs). The boys are all excited and ready to go for the final."

Thankfully, also for both the teams the sun is out today and the weather not as chilly as it was on Friday. Predictions are there that it would be sunny on Sunday. Friday was chilly as the temperature had dipped to around seven degrees with intermittent rain.

India and Pakistan have played 148 matches with former winning 48, drawing 25 and losing 75. India has scored 280 goals and conceded 349. It's a bit of stats that the team would like to improve on.

Indian captain Rajpal Singh, the one player with the most experience of playing against Pakistan, apart from Gurbaz Singh, said the team was very confident.

"We haven't lost a match in the tournament. We would play our natural game and attack to get goals," Indian captain Rajpal Singh said.

From India's point of view carrying home the Asian Champions Trophy would be a massive boost looking ahead to the 2012 London Qualifying tournament. For Nobbs and his young team, it would be a vindication of investing in youth.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 14:21

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South Korea clinch women`s Asian Champions Trophy hockey

Ordos (China): South Korea fought their way back from two-goal down to overpower China 5-3 and win the women`s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Saturday.

The partisan crowd at the packed stadium were on their feet after China took a 2-0 lead midway into the first half but the Koreans dashed their hopes with some brilliant goals on the counter-attack. The home side were also let down by poor finishing at the Korean striking circle.

South Korea scored through Ju Ok Kim (19th), Eun Bi Cheon (23rd), Jong Eun Kim (44th), Jong Hee Kim (45th) and Mi Hyun Park (64th) while Yibo Ma (12th), Baorong Fu (18th) and Lihua Gao (48th) found the target for China.

With a stadium brimmed to the full for the first time in the tournament, China raced away to 1-0 lead with Yibo Ma converting a penalty corner in the 12th minute. The lead was enhanced in the 18th minute through a run from the right flank and Baorong Fu flicking home.

It seemed that China would run away with the trophy with an upset victory but the Koreans were far from being jolted by the reverse as they reduced the margin in the very next minute when Ju Ok Kim shot home.

It took another four minutes for the Koreans ti restore parity with Eun Bi Cheon finding the target from the top of the circle in the 23rd minute. Suddenly the match was thrown wide open as the Chinese found the Koreans too dangerous on the counter-attacks.

In the 44th minute, an error in the midfield saw the Koreans power through and earn a penalty corner. Jong Eun Kim deflected the ball brilliantly past the Chinese goalkeeper. Korea made it 4-2 the next minute with Jong Hee Kim reverse-flicking home after she ran past a host of Chinese defenders.

China managed to cut the scores to 3-4 in the 48th minute when Lihua Gao struck a beautiful reverse shot.

China pressed for the equaliser but utilising the space given by the home side midfielders, Korea struck their fifth goal in the 64th minute when Mi Hyun Park raced down the right flank, dodged past two defenders and placed the ball into goal past the Chinese goalkeeper.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 18:43

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‘Pakistan should play aggressively against India in Asian Champions Trophy final’

Lahore: Former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary and Olympian Khalid Mahmood, and ex-captain Zeeshan Ashraf have urged the national team to play an attacking game against India in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy.

“My prayers are with the Pakistan team to win the final to maintain its supremacy in Asia, and the best technique to beat India is to play aggressive hockey with a solid defence, too,” Zeeshan said.

Pakistan had drawn with archrivals India in their final group stage match in Ordos, China, and now both will clash against each other on Sunday for the trophy.

“It is a good news that Pakistan is in the final, and though the coach is in a better position to adopt a strategy for the final, the previous record shows an attacking game against India could lead Pakistan to win the final,” ex-Olympian Khalid Mahmood said.

Khalid said that the national team should avoid inconsistency, and must take each match seriously since every team is a threat at the international level.

“The defeat at hands of low-ranked Japan (in the ongoing event) and earlier losing to France (during the last tour of Europe) showed the team is having the problem of inconsistency, and with that kind of shortcoming, they can not be a real threat for the European teams,” he remarked.

Zeeshan urged the Asian Hockey Federation to introduce more tournaments in the region if it wants the Asian players to give tough time to European teams.

“The Europeans are having a good number of competitions, but in Asia, only the Azlan Shah Cup and now the newly-introduced Champions Trophy are the two major competitions, which are not enough to make the Asian teams stronger,” he argued.

Bureau Report

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 11:00

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Japan beat India to claim bronze in Asian Women`s CT

Ordos (China): India blew away a 2-0 lead as Japan scored a controversial golden goal in extra time off a penalty stroke and snatched the bronze medal in the Asian Women`s Champions Trophy on Saturday.

India scored twice by the 28th minute but the Japanese capitalised on Indian errors in the second half to not only equalise but score a golden goal through Ai Murakami to destroy India`s dreams of going back home with at least a bronze medal.

India scored through Vandana Katariya (7th) and Rani Rampal (28th), while Japan`s scorers were Rika Komazawa (52nd), Kaori Fujio (63rd) and Ai Murakami (76th).

Japan had earned a penalty corner in the 76th minute, which was saved by an Indian defender`s stick. However, the umpire pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender. And even though the Indians protested, the stroke stayed.

Unlike, the matches earlier in the group stage, India looked more in control as they moved the ball with confidence.

Asunta Lakra once again kept the forwards fed with passes on both the flanks and through the middle.

India took advantage of Japan`s errors in the first half as they made inroads through the middle and used both the flanks effectively.

In the 7th minute, Vandana Katariyan`s field attempt sped past the Japanese goalkeeper, who was caught off the line for India to take the lead.

India wasted the first penalty corner as the push wasn`t effective enough. But they managed to increase the lead in the 28th minute off the second penalty corner when Rani scored.

Japan, meanwhile, were wilting in the midfield as India pushed forward. At the break, India led 2-0.

Throwing more players upfront, Japan started looking to cut the scores. India still had more of the ball but they were reluctant to release the ball fast enough and gave away counter-attacks in the midfield.

Japan earned their third penalty corner off a counter-attack and Rika Komazawa pushed for goal. With the scores at 1-2, Japan increased the pressure.

India, instead of playing the ball around the flanks, got bogged down in the middle and Japan took more of possession.

When only seven minutes were left, a hard hit from outside the circle was deflected into the Indian goal by Kaori Fujio.

At 2-2, the Indians looked deflated.

In the extra time of seven and a half minutes each, Japan had their fourth penalty corner in the 76th minute and the shot hit an Indian defender`s stick but the umpire Liu Xiaoying pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender.

Interestingly, the Japanese players were running to the corner for a long corner when the umpire blew for a stroke against India.

The Indian players protested and even after both the umpires consulted, the stroke stayed.

Yogita Bali, the Indian goalkeeper went the right way but Ai Murakami`s push had enough power to beat the keeper.

Indian coach CR Kumar was disappointed but said that the umpiring was poor in the match.

"I cannot put everything on umpiring. We need to improve upon our fitness and play more high-intensity matches to be able to compete at the top level," he said.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 15:52

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