India upstage Korea 3-0, sail into Azlan Shah semis

Kuala Lumpur, Jun 21 (UNI) Firing on all cylinders, India demolished Asian Games champions South Korea 3-0 in a rain-marred encounter to storm into the semifinal of the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here today.

For the winners, who led 2-0 at half time, Tejbir Singh (9th), Sandeep Singh (15th) and Tushar Khandekar (53rd) were the scorers.

Despite a three-hour rain delay and being down to 10 men in the last seven minutes, India held onto overpower a nippy Korea who had earlier shocked Olympic champion Australia 3-0.

India last won the Sultan Azlan Shah in 1995, then also under coach V Bhaskaran. After the 2003 Asia Cup victory here at the Bukit Jalil stadium, this is the first time that India has entered the semifinals of a major tournament.

Indian coach Bhaskaran was ecstatic in reaching the semifinals of the Azlan Shah and said, ''The team played with a lot of confidence and knowing that it was a crunch match, it was all the more creditable.'' India started off brilliantly with a three-man forward line comprising Tushar Khandekar, Tejbir Singh and Shivender Singh. There was no unnecessary huddling into corners and the team spread itself creating space for every player. Tushar, Shivender and Tejbir kept themselves upfront creating a lot of pressure on the Korean defence.

Tejbir was the star of the first half with some great moves and held the ball long enough for the others to move into position.

It was Tejbir who gave the lead to India in the ninth minute.

Sandeep Singh had a free hit well outside the Korean striking circle and the junior World Cup star's clean, crisp shot found Tejbir who angled his stick brilliantly to ensure the deflection beat Ko Dong Sik, the Korean goalkeeper.

With their tails up after taking the lead, the Indians rotated the ball well and also closely marked the Koreans not giving away too many errors in their own striking circle or in the midfield.

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