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Indian women suffer third loss
The Indian women's hockey team suffered its third consecutive defeat when it lost 2-3 against Japan to finish winless in its league engagements at the Asian Gam
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 08:28 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Busan:
Continuing its poor performance, the Indian women's hockey team suffered its third consecutive defeat when it lost 2-3 against Japan to finish winless in its league engagements at the Asian Games here today. Despite the defeat, India will play Japan once again on Friday for the bronze medal in this four-cornered contest. In an earlier match, China defeated South Korea 2-0, which left Japan requiring to beat India by at least a two-goal margin to move into the final on a better goal difference. But with Japan unable to do so, China and South Korea will meet in the final on Friday. India had won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but it once again failed to capitalise on the chances it got today. The team showed a rare aggression after conceding a goal in the 19th minute, Japanese skipper Keiko Miura scoring through a penalty corner, but squandered the opportunities it created. After being denied any space inside the Japanese circle for the next 40 minutes, India struck through a penalty corner conversion by Suman Bala to equalise. But Japan took the lead again five minutes later through a brilliant field goal by Akemi Kato in the 63rd minute as the Indians failed to keep the pressure on their opposition. India found the equaliser soon when Jyoti Kullu, after getting a pass from Sumani Tete from outside the circle, slammed the ball past the Japanese goalkeeper. However, India's joy was shortlived as Japan, taking advantage of a defensive lapse, scored the winner just a minute before the hooter. Miura, who returned to the field after receiving a treatment for an injury on her head in the first half, scored the winner off a penalty corner. After the match, Indian team coach Gurdial Singh Bhangu expressed his disappointment over the results and blamed poor finishing for the defeat. "Twice we were looking for victory but the forward line did not work at all today. They also lacked finish whenever there were chances. We missed plenty of scoring chances in a match where our opposition played well," he said. (PTI)Topics mentioned in this article
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