India win hockey gold after 32 years

BANGKOK, Dec 18 (UNI) — Indian men today regained the top slot in Asian hockey after 32 years, defeating defending champions South Korea 5-3 via tie-breaker in a pulsating final at the 13th Asian Games here.

The fast-paced edge-of-the seat match extracted the best of the continental artistry from the Indians who automatically qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics by virtue of today’s victory.

After regulation time, the two teams were locked 1-1 with both the goals coming in the first half. Extra time also failed to produce the golden goal and the match drifted to the tie-breaker which saw India triumph 4-2.

Indian goalkeeper Ashish Ballal was the hero of the match saving two strokes.

For India Ramandeep, Baljit Dhillon, Mohammed Riaz and Mukesh Kumar converted in the shootout.

The electrifying match saw a Korean defender being shown the yellow card for rough tackle on Mukesh Kumar.

Korea took the lead in the seventh minute through Jeong Young Kyun who converted their second penalty corner (1-0).

Playing in hot and humid conditions, captain Dhanraj Pillay scored the equaliser in the 22nd minute after the ball was deflected by a Korean defender on a penalty corner.

Baljit Singh Dhillon took the hit which was stopped by Mukesh Kumar but his shot was deflected off a Korean defender’s stick. Dhanraj Pillay lapped it up and made no mistake to sound the board (1-1).

This was the eleventh goal in the tournament for the prolific Indian captain.

India had last won their Asian Games hockey gold at Bangkok in 1966. This was sweet revenge for India who were beaten by the Koreans in the finals at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. India had beaten Korea in the league phase 2-1 in the current edition of the games.

At the Kasetsart University Stadium today, India played like champions.

In the second half both sides made repeated forays into the rival citadel with the Koreans forcing the pace of the attack.

Korea forced three penalty corners within 20 minutes of the second half but failed to convert them.

In the 25th minute of the second half, India got a penalty corner but Baljit Singh Saini’s scoop off Mukesh’s push did not find the target.

Pillay also missed two field goal chances in the second half.

In the 65th minute, India got another penalty corner but Korean goalkeeper Koon Jin Soo stopped the hit brilliantly.

Both sides wasted seven penalty corners each as the match went into extra time.

In extra time, both sides tried in vain for the golden goal.

In the penalty shootout, Ballal saved twice while the Indians did not miss their target, to emerge winners.

In another match, Pakistan beat Japan 3-0 to claim the bronze medal.

India had entered the Asian Games hockey final earlier on six occasions — 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990 and 1994. After they claimed the gold at the 1966 Bangkok Asiad when Balbir Singh got the winning goal against Pakistan.

India had failed to earn a medal at the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur in October.

South Korea emerged as a force in hockey at the 1986 Seoul Games where they displaced continental giants Pakistan and India.