India first loss in Sultan Azlan Shah cup against Australia

Ipoh May 03: India's hockey team has been lost the match by the Australia here on Tuesday in a Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

Australia defeated India with 1-3, India started strongly and suffered the first loss in three matches

while coming to details, In the match pitting last edition's finalists, India kept the Australian attackers at bay before taking the lead through Harmanpreet Singh, who drove from the right - a rare field goal for a defender cum set-piece specialist in the 26th minute.

Australia's equalizer came four minutes later when Eddie Ockenden dived near the right post to put the ball in as both the teams went into the half-time 1-1.



After the break, Australia continued their attacking game, earning as many as three penalty corners in the first four minutes. The third one saw Matthew Swann mist wrapping but Tom Craig capitalized on it and banged one into the near post, stunning goalkeeper Akash Chikte.

Meanwhile, This was India's first loss of the tournament, having earlier defeated England and New Zealand. They face Japan on Wednesday before meeting hosts Malaysia in their final round-robin match on Thursday.