BHUBANESWAR 10-Jun-2019
Host and highest-ranked India (WR 5) crushed lowest-ranked Uzbekistan (WR 43) 10-0 in their third and last Pool-A league match to storm into the semifinals of the FIH Mens Series Finals here at Kalinga Stadium Hockey Complex today.
This was a hat-trick of wins of India, who earlier crushed Russia (WR-22) 10-0 and Poland (WR-21) 3-1 in their first two games. USA (WR-25) also qualified directly for the semifinals, emerging Poo-B toppers despite a 2-2 draw with Asian Games gold medallists Japan (WR-18) in their last league match.
South Africa (WR-16) humbled Mexico (WR-39) 6-0 in another match of the day to finish third in Pool-B. After completion of the Pool phase today, the cross-overs will see Japan face Poland and Russia take on South Africa on 12 June.
The winners of the two cross-over matches will join India and USA in the semifinals. Uzbekistan and Mexico will play for 7th place in the overall standings.
RESULTS:
June 10 (Match 10): USA (Deegan Huisman 41-FG, 51-FG) drew with Japan (Kenta Tanaka 45-FG, Suguru Hoshi 59-PC) 2-2. MoM: Kenta Tanaka.
June 10 (Match 11): South Africa (Matthew de Sousa 1-PC, Nicholas Spooner 17-PC, Mqobile Ntuli 32-FG, Austin Smith 50-PC, Richard Pautz 53-FG, Keenan Horne 58-FG) beat Mexico 6-0. MoM: Mqobile Ntuli.
June 10 (Match 12): India (Varun Kumar 4-PC, 22-FG, Akashdeep Singh 11-PC, 26-FG, 53-FG, Amit Rohidas 15-PC, Nilakanta Sharma 27-PC, Mandeep Singh 30-FG, 60-FG, Gursahibjit Singh 45-FG) beat UIzbekistan 10-0. MoM: Akashdeep Singh.
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PHOTO: India forward Akashdeep Singh in action against Uzbekistan at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 10 June 2019.
