Asian Games Hockey

[Sin Hombre]

I started watching and we scored to go up 4-2 immediately

edit: 5-2 now. No nerves at all.

[ssp]

I'm not watching. That's our strongest weapon
.
More proof of this statement. We have just conceded within 2 mins of me watching. So predictable. 5-3. Good win.

We may meet Korea again... hopefully in the final

[ankit1407]

I started watching and we scored to go up 4-2 immediately

edit: 5-2 now. No nerves at all.

Those are saved for SF and F

[Sin Hombre]

Those are saved for SF and F

In typical fashion, conceded a PC in the last minute. Then conceded another, and again.

Korea scores, 3-5 now.

We will lose if the scores are tight in the last minute.

[sameerph]

Final score was 5-3 in our favour. Watched only on and off with athletics but looked like a mixed sort of performance. Very good at times but did not defend well at times. Anyway, we are not used to see such scores against Korea ( 5-2 till about a minute before the end).

Semi final and finals are the one that matter though. They need to keep up this performance there as there will be no second chance there.

[ssp]

The parts I watched weren't too great. We just couldn't get the ball off Korea often. When we did, we tended to gift it right back. Final goal conceded was due to Rupinder Pal's poor play. He has this habit of messing about in dangerous positions!

Anyway, we'll be meeting Malaysia in the semi's. Let's hope we tighten up the defence.

[PKBasu]

Good to see the men (especially) and women beat Korea so comfortably. Things are looking good at the Asiad hockey so far (the big win over Japan being particularly heartening). It is ludicrous that India and Korea are in the same pool though: surely the top two teams should be in separate pools, although Pakistan has a great historical record at the Asiads.

[jaydeep]

It is ludicrous that India and Korea are in the same pool though: surely the top two teams should be in separate pools, although Pakistan has a great historical record at the Asiads.

Top 2 teams r in different pools ... As per current FIH ranking, Korean r the 4th position in Asian teams.

FIH World Ranking - August 2018
#5 India
#12 Malaysia
#13 Pakistan
#14 Korea
#16 Japan
#17 China

[jayakris]

That again reminds us of how badly Asian hockey has deteriorated. Not having even a couple of teams in the world top 10 is just sad. At least we are there!

[sameerph]

Yes, just looked at the historical rankings, till early part of 2015, India, Korea and Pakistan were all hovering around 7-10 places. From there since later 2015, we have staged a revival to go upto 5th while Korea and Pakistan have gone down.

I sense Pakistan starting to stage a bit of a revival with Oltmans with them now. They easily beat Malaysia 4-1 yesterday.

[jayakris]

I sense Pakistan starting to stage a bit of a revival with Oltmans with them now. They easily beat Malaysia 4-1 yesterday.

Yes, Pakistan is looking much better than we thought. If we beat Malaysia and meet Pak in the final, I will be seriously worried that we will underestimate them, get arrogant and will pay the price. But first we need to get past Malaysia and make the final.

[sameerph]

Our women team is struggling to put it across Thailand. Goalless at half time.

[jayakris]

We scored. 1-0 we lead. And we start pouring it on... 5-0 now. These ladies are too good to not score!

[sameerph]

Ok, good second half which will keep their confidence high going into the SF.

Our semi final opponents not yet decided. Japan is topping the other group. Malaysia and China are fighting it out for second spot. Malaysia is at 7 points and China at 4 but Malaysia plays their final match against Japan today while China plays Hong Kong. So, if as expected Japan beats Malaysia and China beats Hongkong it will come down to goal difference. Malaysia is at +19 now and China at +7. So, China will need a big 10 goal or so win against Hongkong to get it up.

In other scenario, if Malaysia beats Japan it will top the group and we will face Japan.

I prefer Malaysia over Japan or China. We will know by tonight when those 2 matches will get done;

[Omkara]

We scored. 1-0 we lead. And we start pouring it on... 5-0 now. These ladies are too good to not score!

The Thai golie was pretty good stopping most of our efforts. But I guess without team support that's the maximum one can do.

Our trappings were not up to the mark in first half.