India's triple strikes stuns Pakistan

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New Delhi: Prabhjot Singh made his presence felt in the match against Pakistan as he extended India's lead to 3-0 soon after resuming play post half-time.

Earlier, India's specialist drag flicker Sandeep Singh pierced Pakistan's defence as he helped India take a 2-0 lead at half-time. The first half went into extra time and India had a chance to convert a penalty corner that they did to put tremendous pressure on Pakistan.

Shivendra Singh drew first blood as he slammed the first goal of the match. Rajpal Singh set up the goal with a precise pass. The home crowd erupted as the ball zoomed past the Pakistani wicketkeeper.

India are up against arch-rivals Pakistan in a high voltage hockey World Cup match without their first choice goalkeeper Adrian D' Souza.

Their eight Olympic gold notwithstanding, India have not won a major international title since their 1975 World Cup triumph in Kuala Lumpur.

After finishing a lowly 11th out of 12 teams in the last World Cup at Monchengladbach, Germany fours years ago, Indian hockey plunged to a new low in 2008 by missing out on an Olympic berth for the first time in 80 years.

After all these lows, this mega event brings with it an opportunity of a lifetime for Indian hockey to regain its lost glory in front of countrymen.

But achieving it is no mean task for the Rajpal Singh-led side and the first two matches - Pakistan and Australia - carry a lot of significance since result of these encounters would decide their fate in the tournament.

The match also gives Rajpal and his men an opportunity to avenge their 3-6 defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the semifinal of the Champions Challenge I tournament in Salta, Argentina.

The much-anticipated game carries a lot of importance for both the teams not only in the context of sporting ties between the two countries but also on the diplomatic front.

Source:http://www.mynews.in/News/Hockey_World_Cup_India%27s_triple_strikes_stuns_Pakistan_N39531.html