New Delhi: India were undone by penalty corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat’s hat-trick, losing 2-3 to Olympic champions Argentina in their opening match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Saturday. All the goals in the rain-affected match came from penalty corners with Peillat netting in the 13th, 24th and 33rd minutes while Amit Rohidas (26th, 31st) scored for India.
Play was stopped for nearly an hour in the fourth quarter due to heavy rain and a thunderstorm. Argentina relied on penalty corners to score. Peillat’s first attempt was blocked but the second was superbly converted for a 1-0 lead.
India conceded another penalty corner in the 24th and were promptly punished by Peillat again.
Rohidas then exhibited impressive improvisation and predatory instincts to score twice and put India back in the mix at 2-2. But Peillat’s accurate penalty corner conversion proved too much in the end.
Women leave for Korea
The 20-member women’s hockey team, led by Rani, set out for its first tour of the year, to Korea, on Saturday. They will play a five-match series with the hosts starting March 5.
