IPOH (MALAYSIA), April 8 (PTI): A resurgent India blanked Malaysia 3-0 to put their Azlan Shah Cup campaign back on track and stay on course for a place in the final of the hockey tournament.
Arjun Halappa (19th minute) and captain Sandeep Singh (31) sounded the board to put India 2-0 ahead by breather and GS Chandi then rounded off the tally with his 62nd minute strike to complete the rout. After their 2-2 draw against a lowly Egypt in the opener, Harendra Singh’s wards badly needed a win to stay afloat in the tournament and it was not a cakewalk considering Malaysia had maintained a clean slate so far, having beaten Pakistan and Egypt.
In contrast, India’s performance in the drawn match against Egypt was nothing to write home about and Sandeep Singh and his men had their task cut out today.
To their credit, the Indians showed lot of purpose today and while they managed to bring down the Malaysian citadel thrice, their own defence did a tidy job, keeping the opponent strikers at bay. India play New Zealand in their next match tomorrow. ASSAM TRIBUNE
