IPOH: Defending champions India kept up their smashing form in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament and scored a 4-3 win over world champions Australia yesterday.

It was a memorable win for India, whose last victory over Australia was in 2003 in a four-nation tournament in Sydney.

India took a 3-0 lead in the first half with two goals by Tushar Khandker (19th, 33rd) and the other by skipper Rajpal Singh (22nd). Australia pulled two goals back early in the second half with Trent Milton and Christopher Ciriello scoring in the 38th and 40th minutes respectively.

Shivender Singh put India 4-2 up in the 61st minute before Mark Peterson replied in the 69th minute.

India remained on top of the standings on 10 points while Australia have six points and are still in with a chance to make the final.

India’s assistant coach Harender Singh complimented his players for their ability to keep their cool and also to execute the game plan well.

“It was a tough match but the early goals helped us. We made some silly mistakes to let them back into the game in the second half. But the players rallied well to defend the lead and take the match,†he said.

South Korea bounced back into contention for a place in the final after demolishing China 5-3 in an earlier match.

The win gave the Koreans seven points from four matches and they face a must win situation in their remaining fixtures against Australia tomorrow and against Pakistan on Saturday.

The Koreans trailed by a third minute penalty corner goal by Sun Long before they equalised in the 25th minute through Cho Suk-hoon, who beat goalkeeper Su Rifeng from the top of the D.

Nam Hyun-woo made a penalty corner conversion in the 29th minute to put South Korea in front and You Hyo-sik stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 32nd minute.

China hit back right after resumption with Yu Yang scoring off a melee in the 37th minute but South Korea regained their two-goal lead through Yoon Sung-hoon in the 39th minute.

China were reduced to 10 men when Sun Zhixin was yellow carded and South Korea forced a penalty corner in the 46th minute, off which Lee Seung-il scored. The Chinese however reduced the deficit in the 59th minute through Meng Jun.

Source The Star