Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
SUNDEEP MISRA
KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 21: Penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas continued his conversion spree as hot favourites Pakistan took a giant step towards a semi-final berth by thrashing China 10-1 in Pool A league tie of the Asia Cup Men's Hockey Tournamen there today. Earlier, reigning champions South Korea, led by a five goal blitz by Yee Won kon hammered Sri Lanka 9-0 to inch closer to a semi-final berth.
Abbas, who reaped a rich harvest of seven goals against minnows Sri Lanka in their first match, flicked in two penalty corners and also scooped in two strokes to emerge the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals as the former champions made merry against the Chinese at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. Mohammed sarwar (2), Atif Bashir, Arif Mohammed (2) and Naved Iqbal were the other scorers for Pakistan.
China, who had beaten Sri Lanka 4-0, scored the lone consolation goal in the 14th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Wang Hai Feng.With this win, Pakistan, now have six points with two games in hand againstSouth Korea and Bangladesh. China have three points after their lone win against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan play Bangladesh in their next Pool A match.Korean penalty corner specialist Yee Won Kon was in irrepressible form as the Koreans totally outclassed the Lankans.
The other scorers for South Korea were Ji Seong Hwan, Hwang Jong Hyun and Song Seong Tae and Lee Jung Seon.
Retrsopection time for India
India look poised to clinch an expected semi-final berth as they take on lowly Hong Kong in their third and final Group B league tie of the Asia cup Men's Hockey championship here.
But a laboured 3-1 win over Japan and a desperate 1-1 draw against dangerous Malaysia yesterday has revealed several chinks in the armour of the Asian Games winners seeking their maiden title in the fifth edition of the championship.
Grappling with several missed chances which has remained a bane of the team for several years, India has also found veteran forward Dhanraj Pillay much below his usual self on return to theNational side for the first time since last December's Bangkok conquest.
India look certain to gain a last four berth and with four points in their kitty have to only beat Hong Kong, who are yet to garner a point here.But they will have to tighten their approach all-round as both Pakistan and defending champions Korea, one of whom will meet India in the last four, are in ominous form brushing aside their challenge thus far in the Group A league.
--PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------