Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian men’s hockey team disappoint

 After beating New Zealand by 3-2, the Indian men’s hockey was completely outplayed by Australia in their 2^nd Group A game played at North Pitch, Tokyo on Sunday.

It could have been an ideal start for the Indian team as two forwards missed chances of scoring goals and put pressure on Australian players. The Indian strikers showed great skills and earned a penalty corner in the 8^th minute but could not connect the shot. Australian team earned a penalty corner and Beale scored from a deflection in the 10^th minute to give Kookaburras a 1-0 lead. It was an aggressive performance by the Indian strikers to earn another penalty corner but again the same mistake occurred. Australia ended the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.

The second quarter began aggressively for the Australian team as they put pressure on the Indian defense. As a result of attacking play, Australia earned a penalty corner as Hayward scored from a superb drag-flick in the 21^st minute to give them a 2-0 lead. After the goal, the Indian defense was not up to the mark as Oligive scored a superb field goal in the 23^rd minute to continue Australia’s domination. The Australian team showed attacking play as Beltz scored from a reverse stick in the 26^th minute to increase the lead to 4-0. Indian hockey team could not match the speed of Australians and ended the 2^nd quarter with a big deficit.

It was an aggressive start by the Indian team as they earned a penalty corner initially but could not trap the shot properly. Dilpreet scored a superb field goal in the 34^th minute to reduce the margin at 1-4. The Indian strikers put lots of pressure on the Australian defense with one person down due to a green card. Despite that effort, soon after, Australia returned in style as Govers converted the penalty stroke into a goal in the 40^th minute to make it 5-1. 2 minutes later, Govers scored from a penalty corner to continue Australia’s domination. Australia ended the 3^rd quarter at 6-1.

The fourth and final quarter saw Australia maintain the possession making life tough for the Indian defense. Brand scored a superb field goal in the 51^st minute to take a commanding 7-1. After that, the Indian team tried their best but the Australian defense did not allow them to score goals. Australia ended the match with a 7-1 lead.

Despite India earning lots of penalty corners, none of the drag flickers could convert it into goals. India will play their next match against Spain on 27^th July.  

  

Australia thrash India by 7-1 in 2nd Group A match of Tokyo Olympics