India should look to exploit Pak’s weak defence

India was, yet again, slow and sluggish against Korea. Korea outclassed them not only in terms of tactics but also in one-on-one battles. In...

India was, yet again, slow and sluggish against Korea. Korea outclassed them not only in terms of tactics but also in one-on-one battles. India’s only hope could have been penalty corners but they got only two of them. Len Aiyappa converted one but was off the field for the second corner. The result has hardly come as a surprise considering the slow starts India has made in this tournament. To avoid similar results, India will have to try and push the opposition back as early as possible.

The next game is even tougher especially with the defeats India has suffered at the hands

of Malaysia and Korea. But, a game against Pakistan does not generally go according to the formbook. Every player gives 110 per cent, knowing that this one win might wash their earlier sins away.

Pakistan, though, are a formidable opposition. Sitting at the top of the table, they should be really happy with the performance of the youngsters. Adnan Zakir, Adnan Masood, and Mohammed Imran are all coming through. Imran, substitute for Sohail, has already scored four goals. Pak has also been good with field goals; they have scored five so far (excluding the game against Australia).

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India will look to capitalise on a weak Pakistan defence, which has conceded over 20 penalty corners so far. India are also looking good when they use both the flanks in their moves forward. They would be looking to work more on that. Traditionally good at counter attacking, India has drawn a blank in the department so far. Instead, they have depended on the penalty corners — they have scored only one field goal so far, as against four penalty corner goals.

TUESDAY’S RESULT

• PAKISTAN 2 AUSTRALIA 2

• INDIA 1 SOUTH KOREA 4

TODAY’S MATCHES

• Australia vs South Africa

• Malaysia vs New Zealand

• India vs Pakistan

… BUT SCALES SEEM TILTED IN THEIR FAVOUR

		Pakistan is enjoying a dream run in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament while India, predictably, is clearly struggling. A look at recent results tilts the scales in Pakistan’s favour when they take on India in the crunch match of the tournament on Wednesday, if the results of last five matches are anything to go by Indo-Pak hockey series (Pakistan won the series 4-2) • Game 6: Oct 6, Chandigarh: India 1 – Pakistan 1 Everyone expected Sohail Abbas to reach the landmark of becoming the highest goal scorer ever but was checked by the Indian rearguard. By preventing a Pakistan win, India kept its hopes, of drawing the series, alive. Easily, India’s best performance in recent times. • Game 7: Oct 8, Amritsar: Pakistan 2 – India 1 India lost the series, Sohail got his record and the obvious was proved again: Pakistan was the better side. The Indian attack was listless. • Game 8: Oct 10, Hyderabad: India 2 – Pakistan 0 A consolation win for India, who beat the opposition hollow but it was too little, too late. Was India’s second win against Pakistan in 2004. Champions Trophy (Lahore) • December 8: Pakistan 2 – India 1 The league match of the elite event saw Pakistan reassert their supremacy. The Indian attack continued to lack sting; the inability to pierce the opposition defence is still suspect. • December 12: Pakistan 3 – India 2 The bronze medal play-off. Pakistan made it three-in-a-row after 2002 and 2003. The gap between the teams keeps widening. India continued to play three teams-in-one. Still do. — Uthra Ganesan