— PHOTO: PTI

SAVING FACE: India managed to avoid total humiliation with a win over Malaysia to finish fifth.

DOHA: In an absorbing duel, South Korea recovered from an early shock to defeat China 3-1 and retain the Asian Games hockey title here on Thursday. Both teams have qualified for the 2008 Olympics.

China surged into the lead through a penalty corner conversion by Yubo Na. But the joy was short-lived, as Korea hit back when Yoon Sung Hoon, fastening to a long pass by Jong Jang, beat goalkeeper Su Riefeng all ends up.

Before half-time Korea took the lead thanks to a crafty shot by Yew Woon Koon off a free hit. The Chinese never gave up and pushed relentlessly for the equaliser. The quick sallies by Yi Song and Yu Yang kept the Korean defence under a lot of pressure.

The Koreans, meanwhile, forced as many as six penalty corners, against China's two, but none of them proved productive despite Jang's heroic attempts.

In the closing stages, a penalty stroke awarded when Seo Jin Ho was obstructed enlarged the lead for Korea. Yew Woon Koon converted the stroke.

Poignant moment

Earlier, India defeated Malaysia 4-0 to finish fifth. It was a poignant moment to see the team troop out from the Asian Games finishing outside the podium for the first time.

Thursday's outcome was heart-warming, though it came at the wrong time. There was a noticeable rhythm in the functioning of the front-line. There were two immaculate penalty corner flicks by 18-year-old Raghunath. That his tally was 10 from six matches reflects his potential, and the need for further grooming.

Comfortable game

India has not had such a comfortable game against Malaysia in recent years.

Fed well by Ignace Tirkey, who was ably assisted by Vinay and Harpal Singh on the flanks, the Indian frontline was led well by Tushar Khandekar and Tejbir Singh.

It was this combination that earned the first penalty corner from which Raghunath produced a stunning drag flick.

Shortly after resumption Tejbir produced a clipping pass for Rajpal to finish. Raghunath slotted home his second penalty corner goal about 10 minutes from end for India. India ended the contest with a goal by Gurbaj who capped a fine move initiated by Vinay and developed by Halappa.

Understandably, there was nothing for coach Baskaran to rejoice apart from stating that the lessons learnt here would be assessed objectively.

The match marked the end of the international career for skipper Kuhen Shanmuganathan. An icon of Malaysian hockey for nearly a decade now, Kuhen's last bow, after 319 caps, was another poignant moment of the match.

Bronze for Pakistan

Taken aback by the early goal from Yamabori, Pakistan fought back against the relentless Japanese to claim a bronze and a place in the 2008 Olympiad.

It was not a very convincing performance by the fumbling Pakistanis, but the outcome 4-2 was rewarding for the labour put in.

The results: Final: Korea 3 (Yoon Sung Hoon, Yew Woon Koon 2) bt China 1 (Yubo Na).

(7-8): Bangladesh 5 (Resel Muhmad 2, Mamunur Rehman 2, Zahidul Islam) bt Chinese Taipei 1 (Tsai Ming Heng); (5-6): India 4 (Raghunath 2, Rajpal Singh, Gurbaj Singh) bt Malaysia 0; (3-4): Pakistan 4 (Adnan Maqsood, Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Waqas 2) bt Japan 2 (Yamabori 2).

Final placings: 1. Korea, 2. China, 3. Pakistan, 4. Japan, 5. India, 6. Malaysia, 7. Bangladesh, 8. Chinese Taipei.

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