The Hindu : Sport : Indian women bring home a bronze

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 14, 2006
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Indian women bring home a bronze

S. Thyagarajan

Spirited performance lays Korea low

— Photo: AFP

JOY UNBOUND: The Indian team members celebrate their bronze medal win over South Korea.

DOHA: India, after all, is not returning without a hockey medal. The women ensured that, with a bronze, after a pulsating 1-0 victory over South Korea, a four-time gold medallist and winner of the silver last time.

The challenge for India was formidable, given the 2-3 defeat in the pool encounter. But Kaushik's gallant girls never allowed anything to distract them. Focussed from the push off and warding off tremendous pressure they stayed on course to regain a medal after the silver in 1998.

It would be invidious to pick one or two for encomiums. Everyone contributed her share. They attacked well, defended superbly, especially in penalty corners and threaded a few brilliant moves. The Koreans enforced as many as eight in the contest, and came across a few really threatening chances.

A lot of credit should go to goalkeeper Deepika for the excellent saves she effected. It is also due in equal measure to Subdhra Pradhan who brought off a brilliant goal-line save midway in the second half after Oh Koo Woon had beaten Dipika. The ball was rolling agonisingly close to the goal-line when Subdhra dived ahead to avert danger.

Support for Subdhra always came from Suman Bala. But the player who not only defended well but played a constructive role in attack was mid-fielder Asuntha Lakra, who never put a foot wrong. She was firm in her interceptions and quick in clearances.

Jyothi Kullu, expectedly led the attack with assurance with Saba Anjum on the right and Mamta Kharb on the left. The only goal of the match which Mamta struck midway in the first half was the result of a splendid workout in a penalty corner exercise that involved Suman Bala, Jasjeet Handa and Jyothi Kullu.

Thereafter, it was Korea that exerted pressure with a series of moves headed by Park Mi Hyun and Kim Jung Hee. They no doubt created several tense moments inside the circle but never courted success and return home for the first time without a medal since women's hockey came on board in 1982.

Later in the gold medal match, China defeated Japan 1-0. Ren Yi scored the winner in the 41st minute.

The results: 1-2: China bt Japan 1-0; 3-4: India 1 (Mamta Kharb) beat Korea 0; (5-6): Malaysia 5 (Khushaini Nurairah, Siti Rahmah 2, Chitra Devi, Nadia Rahman) beat Chinese Taipei 0 HT 4-0;

Final positions: 1. China, 2. Japan, 3. India, 4. Korea, 5. Malaysia, 6. Chinese Taipei, 7. Hong Kong.

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