Oltmans attributes luck to be a factor in India's win

India's hockey coach Roelant Oltmans believes his side enjoyed a stroke of luck to clinch victory over Malaysia that has secured the team top spot in the round-robin league of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy.

Published : Oct 26, 2016 22:42 IST , Kuantan (Malaysia)

Roelant Oltmans..."I would say we were a bit lucky to get things in our favour in the end."
Roelant Oltmans..."I would say we were a bit lucky to get things in our favour in the end."
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Roelant Oltmans..."I would say we were a bit lucky to get things in our favour in the end."

Indian hockey team coach Roelant Oltmans believes his side enjoyed a stroke of luck to clinch victory over Malaysia that has secured the team top spot in the round-robin league of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here.

India survived some anxious moments when it was down to 10 players and its defence came under immense pressure from host Malaysia, which was spurred by its vociferous supporters to go for a match-winner when scores were level in the last quarter. India rode on Rupinder Pal Singh’s second penalty corner conversion with two minutes left to secure the victory that ensured India stayed ahead of Malaysia in the league standings.

> Read: India defeats Malaysia, tops table

“I would say we were a bit lucky to get things in our favour in the end,” Oltmans said after the game. “Down to 10 players in the last quarter, we could only try to force the pace and try to keep up the pressure. Then on a counter toward the end, you get a penalty corner and get the match-winner. That’s lucky,” said Oltmans.

Rupinder had earlier opened the Indian scoring with a penalty corner conversion in the 12th minute, but Malaysia equalised through Razie Rahim’s penalty corner flick six minutes later.

Rounding off its five outings with four wins and a draw, India topped the round-robin league standings with 13 points and it now awaits the results of the last couple of games on Thursday to find out which team it plays in the semifinals. Malaysia, with nine points from four matches, takes on South Korea on Thursday, while defending champion Pakistan plays China.

'Pleased with the way we played'

Malaysian coach Steven van Huizen was disappointed to end on the losing side despite his boys giving a fine display. “I’m certainly not happy with the result, but quite pleased with the way we played this game,” van Huizen said.

“The experience of the Indian players to control the ball and the counter-attack to earn the late penalty corner is what won them the day,” he said.

The Malaysian coach said he wanted the players not to be disheartened by this loss and to go out to win the last league outing on Thursday against South Korea, which also on Wednesday secured its place in the semifinal with a narrow 4-3 win against Japan.

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