The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Korea scores over India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 31, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Korea scores over India

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, OCT. 30. Defending champion, Korea scored a methodical 2-1 over India to begin its campaign in style in the fourth Asia Cup women's hockey championship (under-21) at Gachihbowli Hockey Complex here today.

The Koreans clearly dominated the game. That the Indians had just two clear scoring chances in the entire match reflects how disappointing its performance has been. It would have been more pitiable but for the consolation goal which came thanks to a fine sense of opportunism from Sarita Lakra in a goalmouth melee in the dying minutes.

The Koreans swarmed all over the Indian defence with Seo Hye Jin, Park Mi Hyun showing the desired coordination upfront. With Jeong Jin Ok and Kim Bo Mi feeding the forwards with precise passes, their task was much more easier. The Indian custodian Marita Tirkey clearly denied the Koreans a couple of more goals. But, in the 18th miute, she was not alert and let the penalty-corner hit taken by Oh Sun Soon roll into the goal off her pads much to the delight of the Korean camp.

Close call

The only time when India came close was when Jasjeet Handa's reverse hit, after a neat run down the right, miss the target.

Then there was a big relief in the Indian camp when Korean Park Young Soon failed to convert a penalty stroke as she merely ended up in hitting straight to the goalkeeper.

In the second half too the Indians continued to be listless. It was again a penalty-corner that brought Korea the second goal in the 49th minute. Oh Sun Soon played a dummy and Woo Ah Rum took the hit, which was duly deflected by Kim Jin Ju to give Koreans a 2-0 lead.

Earlier in the afternoon, China recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Japan. The Chinese, much more fitter and agile, shot into lead in the second minute through Li Zhu Chen and within 12 minutes, Jia Yan Cheng made it 2-0. The only instance when Japan threatened to score was when Erika Esaki's wonderful, angular hit from the top of the 'D' rebounded off the vertical. That was the closest Japan came to scoring in a match otherwise dominated by the rivals.

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