Olympic qualifiers: Indian men’s hockey team thrash France 6-2, women win 3-0

The Indian men’s hockey team thrashed France 6-2 while the women got the better of Poland 3-0 in the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Tuesday.

The men’s team continued their dominating performance and lived up to the reputation of being the highest-ranked team in the tournament at World No.10.

Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was again the star of the night slamming in three goals (9th, 30th and 37th), two from penalty corners. Sandeep is also the leading goal scorer in the tournament with seven goals from three matches. Shivendra Singh (4th), S.V.Sunil (39th) and Tushar Khandekar (62nd) also added to their tally.

France managed two consolation goals from penalty corners with Lucas Sevestre and Fabien Magner converting in the 35th and 56th minute.

The French, however, were no match for the eight-time Olympic champions’ pace and aggression and their defence caved in under relentless attack from the Indian forwards.

Sarvanjit Singh took the French defence completely by surprise in the fourth minute with a brilliant run and passed it to an unmarked Shivendra, who did a dummy before sounding the board. Five minutes later Sandeep doubled the lead with a powerful drag-flick.

India were 3-0 by the 30th minute with Sandeep converting a penalty strike after Sunil was fouled in the French D.

France, however, stunned the Indian defence at the stroke of half-time after Sevestre converted the first penalty corner that came their way.

In the second half, India continued in the same breadth and scored two lovely field goals from Tushar and Sunil that was a delight to watch.

Earlier, the women hockey team’s unbeaten run continued with a 3-0 win over Poland.

India were unimpressive in the first-half but raised their game after the break with two goals for a comfortable victory against the World No.28.

India took the lead in the 14th minute through Ritu Rani and doubled the lead in the 36th minute through Rani Rampaul while Poonam Rani completed the scoreline in the 62nd minute.

With the win, the 13th ranked India are on top of the table with seven points. India and tournament favourites South Africa (World No.12) have seven points each but the hosts are ahead on the basis of a better goal difference.

Coming off from a rest-day, the Indian half-line completely dominated the game with Deepika Thakur and Rani Rampaul orchestrating most of the moves.

As promised by coach C.R. Kumar, the girls were aggressive right from the start with Deepika breaking past the Polish defence in the fifth minute but her shot missed the goal by a whisker.

India pressed hard from both the flanks and finally opened the scoring when skipper Asanta Lakra from the centre gave a through pass to Poonam, who set-up Ritu brilliantly with only the goalkeeper to beat, leaving the Polish defenders stunned.

In the next 21 minutes, Indian displayed great athleticism to prise apart the Polish defence but lacked good finishing, something that was visible in their 1-1 draw with Ukraine and 4-1 win over Canada.

India, however, didn’t have to wait too long post the break as they doubled the lead in the 36th minute after some stunning stick-work by Rani, who dribbled past three defenders in the D before slotting it past the Polish goalkeeper.

India netted the third with eight minutes left for the hooter as Poonam slotted in a pass from Deepika from left, giving no chance to the goalkeeper to move.