India edge past Argentina to finish seventh

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sydney: India ended a disappointing Olympic men's hockey campaign on a winning note on Friday, downing Argentina 3-1 in the playoff for seventh spot.

India led 1-0 at halftime through a field goal from Deepak Thakur in the 30th minute and extended their lead when a deflection by Sukhbir Singh Gill found the net in the 47th minute.

Argentina hit back five minutes later when prolific striker Jorge Lombi converted his ninth penalty corner of the tournament to take him to a tournament total of 13 goals, six clear of his nearest rival, Pakistan's Sohail Abbas, who has one more game to play.

With Argentina threatening, India's most experienced player, Dhanraj Pillay, slotted in his first goal of the tournament to make the score 3-1.

Pillay worked an excellent one-two with Baljit Dhillon Singh to set up the shot, but he was almost denied by Ezequiel Paulon, who blocked the ball but could not stop it rolling in.

India, who came to Sydney with high hopes of restoring some of the past glory that brought them eight hockey golds, finished one place higher than in Atlanta four years ago.

Argentina also moved up one place after finishing ninth in 1996.



(c) Reuters Limited.