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The Indian men’s hockey team thrashed hosts Scotland 6-2 for their second consecutive win in the group stage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre. |
Australia began in emphatic fashion with a crushing 7-1 victory over Wales. The world champions, who’ve been beaten just once at the Games since hockey was first introduced in 1998, dominated from the opening whistle.
They were playing under co-coaches Graham Reid and Paul Gaudoin after Ric Charlesworth stood down following the recent world title triumph in The Netherlands. But they continued in the same dominant vein and led 3-0 at halftime through Chris Ciriello, a Kieran Govers penalty corner and a Jacob Whetton strike.
India dominated the proceedings right from the start and it was only in the final moments of the game that Scotland managed to score but it was too late to make a comeback. India got the scorecard ticking early in the sixth minute of the game, with Gurbaj Singh scoring a brilliant field goal.
In the 23rd minute, India bagged a penalty corner which was converted through the stick of V R Raghunath helping India to increase the lead.
In the 37th minute, Rupinder Pal Singh converted another penalty corner to increase the lead further to 3-0. In the 40th minute, Gurwinder Singh Chandi added one more as he brilliantly struck past the defence to sound the board.
India yet again converted a penalty corner stroke in the 45th minute again through Raghunath to make it 5-0. India struck again in the 48th minute through another penalty corner and this time through Rupinder. Trying to break through the Indian defence, Scotland finally managed to open the scoring in the 56th minute when K. Bain scored through a field goal.
In the 69th minute, the home team reduced the margin by converting the penalty corner through Nicholas Parkes to make it 6-2. India will now take on Australia on Tuesday.
Vijender, Manoj in last 16
Both Vijender (75kg) and Manoj (64kg) won their respective men’s Round of 32 bouts to proceed to the last 16 at the Commonwealth Games yesterday. In the Round of 32, Manoj defeated Mokhachane Moshoeshoe of Lesotho 3-0.
The 27-year-old Indian won all three rounds with a perfect score of 30 points, 10 from each judge in each round. Moshoeshoe was no match for the Haryana pugilist as he only managed scores of 27 in all three rounds.
