Published 22:55 IST, November 2nd 2019
Hockey: Indian men's team qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020
India men's hockey decimated a hapless Russia 7-1 in the second leg Olympic qualifier as India booked a safe ticket to Tokyo Games on an 11-3 aggregate high
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It was a top-of-the-gear high octane spirited display of skills, exuberance and electric hockey that decimated a hapless Russia 7-1 in the second leg Olympic qualifier as India booked a safe ticket to Tokyo Games on an 11-3 aggregate high. Powered by Akashdeep Singh and Rupinder Singh's brace (two goals each) and a goal from Lalit, Nilakanta and Amit Rohidas, India inflicted deep cuts & misery to Russian counterparts who were a pale shadow of their performance displayed a night ago.
India dominates Russia on their way to Tokyo
In fact, all four quarters, the first half and the entire match belonged to India. After an early shocker, India bounced back and penetrated Russia circle on 32 occasions. Though Russia drew first blood in the first 30 seconds of the match, India equalised through Lalit in the 17th with the fine deflection off Hardik's powerful cross. Lalit scored on his 100th international appearance. Akashdeep Singh scored the second goal for India getting it on the rebound off a penalty corner, placing it perfectly on the bottom right corner. Two minutes later, Akashdeep comes up with a sensational field goal after a beautiful piece of individual skills & then piercing the ball into the Russia net through goalkeeper's leg.
A few minutes later, Nilakanta Sharma got another goal for India through a brilliant hit from just inside the circle and he beats the Russia goalkeeper with pace. The ball hits the top right of the net. India made it 5-1, Rupinder Pal Singh converts penalty corner to extend India's lead.
Indian Women hockey team get their ticket to Tokyo
Earlier, Captain Rani Rampal broke out of jail and rescued India from a catastrophic defeat on goal's aggregate from a lowly ranked USA in the two-legged Olympic qualifier on Saturday night. Rani just did enough -- score a goal in the dying minutes -- and just about maintain the one goal difference 6-5 at Bhubaneshwar's Kalinga Stadium to book Indian team's ticket for next year's Olympics Games. India had to maintain a one-goal aggregate difference to go through which they finally did after the rampant USA playing some supremely high tempo game against India in the 2nd leg, shocked the host 4-0 at half time and won the 2nd leg 4-1.
22:17 IST, November 2nd 2019