India go down fighting in Azlan Shah final

[iinfi]

Well India did play well in this tournament.
result of someone moving out of the IHF
http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/may/18hock.htm

Argentina stopped a surging India in their stride at the Azlan Shah hockey tournament as they won the final 2-1 in extra time in Ipoh, Malaysia on Sunday. A brace by Mario Almada saw the South Americans lift the trophy on their third attempt.

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh put India in the lead when he converted a penalty corner in the 11th minute and finished as the highest scorer in the tournament with nine goals.

Argentina draw level when Mario Almada slammed in a goal from close range in the 14th minute. The final minutes of the first half saw a skirmish, after a botched Argentine penalty corner, but no cards were flashed.

The match turned mechanical in the second half, as both sides persisted on defense. Argentina were the more dangerous side in the last five minutes, but failed to break the deadlock, and the match went into extra-time.

In the first minute itself, the golden goal came off a Almada deflection.

Argentina had also beaten India 5-1 earlier in the league encounter.

The tournament was established in 1983, but Argentina made their debut in 2006 and ended seventh, and last year their were placed fifth. Both times, eight teams featured in the tournament.

New Zealand [Images] won the bronze when they beat Pakistan 2-1 while Canada [Images] edged out Belgium 4-3 to save the embarassment of finishing last.

[prasad_den]

Good luck to the hockey team... let's hope this is the start of a new era..

[goobimama]

They came this far. Given that they didn't qualify for the Olympics, had that big scam with the whoever, that is applause worthy.

[blueshift]

Well done Team India.

[gary4gar]

Argentina beat India in Azlan Shah final

IPOH (Malaysia), May 18 : Mario Almada struck a golden goal as a spirited India suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Argentina in the final of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament here on Sunday.

Sandeep Singh's 10th minute penalty corner conversion put India ahead in the title clash, but veteran Almada led Argentina's fightback and scored a brace (14th, 73rd) to help his side clinch the championship

http://sports.indiatimes.com/Argenti...ow/3051141.cms

[goobimama]

My Sports India: India lose 1-2 to Argentina at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2008. Brilliant performance nonetheless.

Forward Nicolas Mario Almada of Argentina scored a golden goal in the 73rd minute to steer Argentina to a hard fought 2-1 win over India in Sunday’s final to lift their first Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament title here. The match had to be decided in sudden death after both teams failed to break the 1-1 deadlock within regulation time.

This in itself is a victory for the Indian team who have come a long way from failing to qualify for the Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association lauded the performance of the national hockey team which won the silver medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, saying the performance would be the benchmark for building a future side. “The boys have shown what motivation can do to them, they have shown how it is when sportspersons come together,” IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh said in his congratulatory message for the side.

Hmm....

[mail2and]

It's sad that we applaud our team's loss to a lowly team such as Argentina these days.