Hockey: India settle for Silver

Published 08/05/2014, 6:28 AM EDT

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The men’s Indian hockey team despite its best efforts couldn’t stop history repeating itself as India lost 4-0 to World Champions Australia in the final. Having lost to the same opponent in 2010 Delhi CWG games 8-0, the Indian team was expected to go one step ahead and clinch gold.

The team only lost to Australia before the finals, that is, in the group stage when it lost 4-2. What was to be seen was the team had definitely improved from the performances in World Cup which was held in The Hague, Netherlands this year.

The team had come back from trailing 2-1 in the semi-final against New Zealand and ended up winning 3-2. The team did this despite Captain Sardar Singh missing the match due to suspension for 2 yellow cards in the tournament. The team also had beaten the likes of Wales, Scotland and South Africa before reaching the semis. The team was boosted with the return of Danish Mujtaba, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thammiah and Gurvinder Chandi as they had missed the World Cup.

Gurvinder Chandi, VR Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh, Sardar Singh and Goalkeeper Sreejesh were the key players for India and they did do a good job.

With having won the silver here, the team is expected to win a Gold in the upcoming Asian Games and secure a spot for 2016 Rio Olympics.

The team did show signs of improvement in the CWG games, what remains to be seen is if the captain Sardar Singh along with Terry Walsh, can take them to a long way.

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Written by:

Gurkirat Singh Gill

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A sports enthusiast since 2003 with my first experience of connecting with sports being the Cricket World Cup 2003. Studying Engineering in Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, University of Delhi, but pretty sure will not become an Engineer.
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