India crashed to their fourth successive defeat in the Olympic hockey competition today as they suffered a humiliating 1-4 reversal against South Korea, says a report in The Hindu, adding that India is the only team among 12 competing in these Olympic Games without a single point from five matches.
“The eight-time gold medallists are now heading for their lowest-ever finish in the Olympics as they will finish at the bottom of the group and will have to play for the 11th and 12th positions. India’s defence showed some resolve to hold on grimly against the fast-paced Koreans, but it crumbled thrice on well-directed penalty corner shots,” says the report, adding that South Korea’s game plan to exert pressure on India with fast overlapping game produced rewards as the tentative Indian defence again conceded some soft penalty corners.
Indian seemed a more coordinated unit that the previous three matches, but their goal fell two times in the last four minutes.
Meanwhile, India coach Michael Nobbs apologised to the hockey fans of the country, saying the players had let the nation down with their insipid display as the team slumped to its fourth successive defeat in the Olympic competition on Sunday, says a report in The Times Of India.
"The players have failed to perform. Call it pressure of whatever, the have let themselves, the team and the country down," Nobbs said after India's 1-4 loss to South Korea.
Today's defeat has left them at the bottom of Pool B, pushing the eight-time gold medallists to the lowest ever ranking in the Olympics.
Taking more than a passing interest in Indian hockey unwittingly makes one a statistician of sorts. Especially if the numbers are of the dubious kind, writes The Times Of India, adding that take for instance the defeat to South Korea at the London Olympics on Sun-day. The 1-4 verdict meant losing the first four matches in an Olympic tournament.
“Losing four matches at the Games, in itself, is also a first. Actually, it meant three back-to-back firsts at London 2012. After losing the opener to Holland and the next match to New Zealand, it was the first ever time India lost the opening two matches of an Olympic tournament. Then came the defeat to Germany. Record updated. More misery and record setting - a loss to South Korea to make it four losses in four matches. Another uncomplimentary record tumbles,” says the report.
“In the light of the incessant number of dubious firsts, we've grown tired of being reminded of the positive firsts for the 'national game' starting with India are eight-time Olympic gold medallists. Statisticians would expand that to: The first nation to register a hat-trick of titles (1928-36); the first to win five titles in a row; the first to win a double hat-trick of titles and so on...
But once the dubious first came along - that of losing the Olympic title for the first time ever (to Pakistan 0-1 at the 1960 Rome Olympic final), they came in thick and fast,” says the TOI report.
