Indian eves finish medal-less in Asia Cup, China bags bronze

Hong Kong, Sep 9 (UNI) Defending champions India ended their sixth Asia Cup Womens Hockey Championship campaign on a low note as they were outclassed by China 2-4 in the bronze medal playoff match at Kings Park here today.

China started the match on a cracking pace, storming the Indian goal mouth right from the opening whistle with Tang Chung Ling missing the ball completely while having a wild swing when she only had Indian goal keeper Marita Tirkey to beat.

Indians staged a counter attack in the sixth minute captain Mamta Kharab's deflection was saved by the Chinese goall keeper Zhang yi Ming.

However, this time around India's ploy of slowing down the game did not come handy as China were the first to open the scoreboard when down the left flank Song Qing Ling latched on to a rebound and beat Tirkey with a blistering shot to give China the lead.

The Indians were no match to Chinese pace in the first half of the match as in the 22nd minute captain Ma Yi Bo gave China their second goal converting a penalty corner with a superb drag flick.

Five minutes a sloppy lapse in defence on the right cost India heavily as Li Hong Xia took full advantage to give China a 0-3 lead in the first half.

The second session also started on the same pattern with penalty corner specialist Ma Yi Bo making it 0-4 in the 42nd minute.

But just when it seemed the Indians were down and out, they forced a rare penalty corner, which vice captain Suman Bala converted to bring one back for the defending champions.

In the 53rd and 56th minute, the Indians were reduced to nine players after Joydeep Kaur and forward Jasjeet Kaur were shown yellow cards for rough play.

However, back to the field, Jasjeet Kaur pulled back another goal for India in the 69th minute to end the tie on a somewhat respectable note.

With their second successive loss -- earlier losing against Japan in the semi-final yesterday -- India finished on the fourth place.

Meanwhile, Malaysia secured the fifth spot defeating Thailand 3-1 5th and 6th place paly-off, while minnows Chinese Taipei inched past host Hong Kong 1-0 in the 7th and 8th position playoff match.

UNI