India take on Korea in do-or-die tie in Asiad hockey

Doha, Dec 9 (UNI) Rejuvenated after demolishing Oman, India would be up against defending champions Korea in the do-or-die last league match of the men's hockey competition at the Asian Games here tomorrow.

A draw or a loss will see India out of contention for a podium finish for the first time in the history of this event at the Games.

So, the two-time champions will have to go all out for a victory -- a target which is not impossible to achieve despiote the Koreans being strong favourites.

India go into the last league match with six points from three encounters, while Korea have nine points from three ties.

China have finished their league engagements with nine points from four matches.

India have a better goal difference 17-3 as against China's 13-7 and a win will ensure the former champions a berth in the last four stage.

India put up a brilliant performance -- especially in the second half -- to thrash lowly Oman 9-0 and that rekindled their hopes of a semifinal berth. Oman is not a big name in the game but it is always tough to beat a side which mixes game with physical power.

Cutting through the defence of such a team is also risky, because one does not know where the stick of a rival player will land -- on the body or on the ball -- and in such a scenario, an Indian win was praiseworthy.

But against Korea, it is going to be an altogether different ball game.

The defending champions, who are assured of topping the pool irrespective of tomorrow's result, are in blistering form.

The Indian forwards will have to pull up their socks and the midfielders will have to rethink their tactics. Overall, the players need to have belief in themselves if they have to avoid the humiliation of playing for the fifth-sixth place.

India started off well beating Bangladesh 6-0 but hit a road block when they were beaten 2-3 by China. They, however, kept hopes alive by demolishing Oman.

Now, it is the time of reckoning for them as they face thrice Asiad gold medallists and world's seventh-ranked team.

Koreans are brimming with confidence, having won three matches in a row and have a squad full of athleticism and agility with skill and speed combined with flair and fluency.

Though India had beaten Korea in Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia, the Asian Games champions returned the compliment by defeating them in the World Cup.

Korea easily outclassed China 3-0 yesterday and their hopes have sky-rocketed as they are eyeing to retain the gold and qualify for the Beijing Olympics from here.

They have displayed guts and attacking game and their moves have all the hallmarks of an aggressive and sharp team.

India need to break the shackles with a more reassured exhibition of hockey and self belief in themselves and get back to the winning ways. They will need to bring additional sparks and calibration amongst the forward line, which will necessitate outstanding midfield play with perfect distribution.

The Indian defence manned by Dilip Tirkey, Raghunath, Harpal has been tentative while the forwards -- Tejbir, Tushar Khandekar, Shivendra and Rajpal Singh have not lived up their potentials.

The midfielders -- Ignace Tirkey, Vinay, Arjun Halappa, Ajmer -- have given inconsistent performances and rookie Gurbaz did play well against Oman yesterday but he has yet to be tested against a strong side.

Coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran, who has been supporting the players to the hilt despite the reverses, is hopeful that his boys will understand the importance of the match against Korea.

''If we win the match, we will be in the semis and after that every thing is possible,'' he said.

So, it is a question of everything or nothing for India. A win will give them hope for everything or they face the shattering reality of nothing.

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