India trounce England

India's junior hockey team turned in a heartening display as they drubbed England 5-2 to register their first victory from two matches in the five-nation under-21 men's invitational hockey tournament, at the National hockey stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday.

Later in the day, Malaysia drew 2-2 with Korea in a hard-fought match.

The Indians, who drew with Australia in their opening match, took time to settle down, but after some erratic passing and a couple of missed chances, took off in the 16th minute. Young Jugraj Singh, who did duty for the senior team at the Azlan Shah tournament, laid the ground for the goal and all Raju had to do was complete the finishing touches to a good move.

From then on it was India all the way as the English defence went through a testing period. And it is to the credit of the England defence and goalkeeper that the Indians were restricted to just a goal till the breather.

On resumption, Tejbir Singh scored twice, in the 45th and 47th minutes, with scorching hits as England goalkeeper David Carter helplessly watched the ball speed past him into goal.

But England pulled back a goal in the 50th minute through Richard Mantell from a penalty-corner and then gave their fans hopes of a fightback as they scored again withing minutes through Martin Jones, who converted a penalty-stroke.

However, that was as far as they could get and Indian 'keeper Suraj Singh was not called upon to anything out of the ordinary.

Jugraj Singh converted a penalty-stroke in the 56th minute to put the issue beyond doubt before Prabodh Tirkey too could get his name on the scoresheet a little before the final whistle.

England had a chance to reduce the margin but goalkeeper Shanmuga Sundram, who replaced Suraj Singh, did well to save James Webber's push.

For England, it was their second defeat, having lost to Malaysia in their first match.

Malaysia played cautious hockey until half-time as the fast-paced Korean missed two penalty-corners. They took the lead in the 51st minute, through a flick from Jiwa Mohan following a penalty-corner hit, but the South Koreans equalised through Jung Seung-tae in the 66th minute.

Malaysia again took the lead when Zaharin Zakaria sounded the board in the 69th minute, but the never-say-die Koreans found an equaliser again through Cha Jung-bok in the dying seconds to earn a draw.

After two rounds, Malaysia, India and Australia have four points each, but Malaysia are placed atop the five-team table with a better goal difference of plus-4 compared to India's plus-3 and Australia's plus-2.

Earlier reports:
Australia too good for Korea
India rally to hold Australia
Indian juniors to take on Australia