Amsterdam: The Indian men followed the women’s team out of semifinal race in the Hockey World Cup.
Harmanpreet Singh’s boys, hanging in by a thread and needing a big victory besides a favourable result in another game, crashed to a 3-5 defeat against Argentina at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen (Netherlands).
The defeat meant India finished without a point in Pool E, in the second phase. Having lost to England in first-phase Pool D clash, India carried zero point in second phase, before suffering 1-3 and 3-5 losses at the hands of the Netherlands and Argentina.
Six months ago, Argentina mauled India 8-0 in an FIH Pro League fixture in Rourkela. The Argentines were in similar mood on Monday as they scored through Joaquin Toscani, 41 seconds into the crucial must-win game for both teams.
Argentina doubled their lead in the 6th minute as Nicholas Della Torre converted a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh managed to pull a goal back before the first quarter ended.
But Tomas Domene found the target twice in the third quarter to push India on the mat. Lucas Toscani got into the act in the final quarter, to make it 5-1.
As a consolation, Sukhjeet netted his second and Hardik scored from a penalty stroke in the final two minutes of the game. But it was too little, too late.
Indian women fare slightly better
The Indian women fared better in comparison. Having carried forward a point to the second phase, they lost to the Netherlands but managed a goalless draw against Australia on Sunday night.
But it wasn’t enough as the Aussies pipped Indians to the last-four stage on more goals scored after tying on goal difference.
The Indian men and women will now play in classification rounds for 5th to 8th positions.
