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Impressive India clinches series

K. Keerthivasan

Diwakar and Samir Baxla live up to expectations

Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

DELIGHTFUL DUO: Rajpal Singh (right) and Diwakar (left) who scored a goal each helped India clinch the series against Belgium in the fourth Test in Chennai. —

CHENNAI: Introducing deserving youngsters to the big stage is never a bad idea, that too at a time when India finds itself at a crossroads.

With the Olympic qualifier — a bigger stage — looming large, new talents, who can take on the extra burden are always welcome.

Indian coach Joaquim Carvalho decided to include Diwakar Ram and Samir Baxla into the India XI in the fourth hockey Test against Belgium on Wednesday.

Both did justify their presence. Diwakar lived up do to the expectation as India eked out a 2-1 victory at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium and clinched the five-match series 3-0.

The fifth and final Test is slated for Thursday.

Diwakar was outstanding in the field and delivered in a position where India is desperately trying to find the best man —drag flick.

Lightning goal

Even before the spectators could settle down, India struck. Diwakar’s shot off the team’s first penalty corner rebounded off goalkeeper Cedric De Greve’s pads straight to Ignace Tirkey, who ran to the top of the circle. His drive found Rajpal Singh, who tapped it home, much to the delight of the modest gathering.

Belgium was struggling to find its rhythm. The forward line and midfield found it difficult to co-ordinate. The visitor was content with long passes and inconsequential sallies. It did not look like the team playing to stage a fight-back. All of a sudden, the equaliser emerged out of nowhere.

It was not a planned execution and looked like a freakish goal. Truyens Jerome, in a melee, scopped one over custodian Baljit Singh. What was missing from the Indian arsenal was its effective frontline. There were no surging moves. Shivender Singh couldn’t force the pace.

However, in the midfield, Ignace Tirkey was always there to help the frontline with neat passes. He cleared quite a goal-bound balls (so did goalkeeper Baljit) in penalty corners of which Belgium had six in total.

India surged ahead in the 28th minute. Substitute Raghunath did a dummy, and gave it to Diwakar whose shot was immaculate for its precision and angle. Ahead by a goal in the first session, India barely managed to attack even as Belgium forced five corners in the second session.

The results:

India (Rajpal Singh, Diwakar Ram) bt Belgium 1 (Truyens Jerome).

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