LONDON, Aug 5: India crashed to their fourth successive defeat in the Olympic hockey competition today as they suffered a humiliating 1-4 reversal against South Korea. India are the only team among 12 competing in these Olympic Games without a single point from five matches. The eight-time gold medallists are now heading for their lowest-ever finish in the Olympics as they will finish at the bottom of the group and will have to play for the 11th and 12th positions. India’s defence showed some resolve to hold on grimly against the fast-paced Koreans, but it crumbled thrice on well-directed penalty corner shots. South Korea’s gameplan to exert pressure on India with fast overlapping game produced rewards as the tentative Indian defence again conceded some soft penalty corners. Indian seemed a more coordinated unit that the previous three matches, but the their goal fell two times in the last four minutes. The sustained pressure built by the Koreans midway through the first session was an indication of things to follow as India seemed desperate and fell back to defend their citadel, but they had no mechanism to stop Nam Hyun Woo from converting two penalty corners in the 59th and 70th minutes to shatter the Indian hopes of salvaging some pride. South Korea took an early lead Jang Jong Hyun converted a sixth minute penalty corner by placing a rasping drag-flick just under the crossbar. India got the equaliser in the 10th minute on a breakaway move in which Gurwinder Singh Chandi deflected in Gurbaz Singh’s cross from right into the boards. Tushar Khandkar had an opening to put India ahead four minutes later, when he picked up a diagonal ball from Dharamvir Singh inside the striking circle, but shot straight into the goalkeeper’s pads. It began raining heavily midway through the session and during this period the South Koreans pushed the Indian defence against the wall. The Indian defence seemed shaky when South Korea broke in from the left with short passes and then forced two penalty corners in three minutes, but Jang shot wide on both occasions. Three Indian strikers were in the circle with the ball in a counter attack in the 27th minute, but the Korean defenders covered them well and did not allow a good crack at the goal. India earned their first penalty corner in the the 31st minute, but Sandeep Singh could not take a shot as the ball was no stopped, but Sardar Singh innovated to have a shy with a reverse hit that went wide. Sandeep was not able to make any impression on the Korean defence even as India earned two successive penalty corners just before the breather. The Koreans came back strongly in the second session, but the Indian defence held on grimly by crowding the circle. India had a chance to move ahead against the run of play in the 57th minute when S.V. Sunil’s shot from left went across the goalmouth and Dharamvir was unable to trap the ball. Nam scored twice with his penalty corner drag flicks, giving South a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute by placing a drag flick into the top corner of the goal. India then came out of their shell seeking an equaliser, but a counter attack saw captain Lee Seung Il shoot home from the top of the box to put it beyond India. But the Koreans had not finished their task and Nam came back to rub the salt into India’s wounds with a low minute penalty corner flick in the last minute that sounded the boards. (PTI)

By
Daily Excelsior
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LONDON, Aug 5:

 Beijing Olympics bronze-medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar today promised a good performance by the Indian grapplers in the London Games when they start their campaign on August 9 here.

     “You will not find the Indian wrestlers wanting on the mat. We are determined to give our best. But then it is sports. Nothing can be predicted for sure,” said Sushil during an interaction in the Games Village after his arrival from Minsk along with four other grapplers.

     Sushil, who was the flag bearer of Indian contingent in the opening ceremony, had gone back to Minsk to continue with his training along with his teammates.

     Sushil, who will be competing in the 63kg section, said he had faced most of the opponents in his category earlier as well.

     “There are few wrestlers with whom I have not wrestled so far. But this is Olympics. You will always have to face this uncertain fact and be prepared for it,” said Sushil.

     Admitting that after his medal winning performance in Beijing, people back home have a lot of expectation from not only him but other grapplers also, Sushil said: “This is a very good sign. Earlier wrestling never got so much of medium attention.”

     Meanwhile, team manager Raj Singh exuded confidence that all five grapplers will give their best and win couple of medals.

     “There is nothing 100 per cent in life, but one makes assessment on the basis of players’ past performances and present conditions. The wrestlers are in very good shape and confident to do well,” he said.

     Raj Singh asserted that he has fairly good knowledge of most of the wrestlers, who will be figuring in the five categories in which Indians are taking part.

     “I’m not talking of the colour of the medal, I am talking of a medal and mind you it could be of any of the three.”

     Stating that he was in charge of the Olympics training programme of the Indian wrestlers, Raj Singh said: “I am fairly optimist of their good showing.

     “Earlier most of the countries wanted Indians in their group because we were considered very feeble opponent, but things have changed dramatically and now they want to avoid us. I am not talking big. This is the fact. The scenario has changed. Indian wrestlers are now taken very seriously and with lot of respect.

     “Sushil has raised the bar and I know he understands the expectations people are having from him back home.”

     Speaking about the chances of other Indians, Raj Singh said, “In 60kg category, Yogeshwar Dutt is Asian champion. In his category there are more Asian wrestlers compared to others and he has fought with most of them.

     “Amit Kumar (55kg) is young and very bright wrestler. He is confident and focused and can emerge as a dark horse. Narsingh Yadav, in 75kg, is capable of creating upset. He has beaten the Beijing Games medallist in the qualifying competition.

     “In 55kg category, Geeta will have the distinction of being the first woman to represent the country in the Olympics. She has qualified overcoming tough challengers and those who will take her lightly, will do that at their own risk.”

     Raj Singh said after the draw, which is scheduled on August 9, a clearer picture will emerge and then the Indians will reassess their position. (PTI)

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