India mauls Lanka 20-0 in yet another goalfest to qualify for semis

It has been a scintillating performance from the Indians in the pool stages as they scored as many as 76 goals and conceded just three.

India, thus, topped Pool Pool A with an all-win record from five games and will take on the second-placed team in Pool B, Malaysia, in the first semifinal on Thursday.

Indian men rounded off their hockey league engagements with a 20-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka in Pool A on Tuesday to finish undefeated ahead of their semifinal clash against Malaysia. And coach Harendra Singh is aware that his next opponent is a tricky customer.

Akashdeep Singh scored six while Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored three apiece against the minnows. The team took some time to get into the groove, managing only seven goals in the first half, before stepping on the gas to pump in at will post break. “The boys are hungry for success, they want to score more and more goals. In the end, it comes down to how you perform on that particular day,” Harendra said.

India topped its group only to collapse against Malaysia in the 2010 semifinals but Harendra insisted that was in the past. “This is a different team. I have only told the boys to focus on yourself and your game, not the opponent. All of us including players and staff are here to create a legacy and make history and so there are no easy or tough matches for us. Our job is to go out there and do our best and win,” he said.