Dutch down India to lift Punjab Gold Cup

The Netherlands pipped host India 2-1 in the final to win the Punjab Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the Sector-42 Stadium in Chandigarh today. The Dutch played better when it mattered. In the closing stages when one little mistake could decide the champion, the Indians faltered. Two penalty corners went unrewarded and the home team could have hardly complained. India had five penalty corners against two for the Netherlands. India played well but not well enough to win. It took the lead in the 43rd minute but surrendered it in the 46th minute before eventually going down by a 66th-minute goal. Robbert Kemperman and Player-of-the-tournament Jeroen Hertzberger were the Dutch scorers. India earlier took the lead by scoring through a penalty stroke conversion by Sandeep Singh. New Zealand took the third spot with a 3-2 verdict against Germany. Andren Hayward, Lloyd Stephenson and Joel Baker were the Kiwi marksmen while Moritz Furste and Oskar Deecke scored for the Germans.