Controversial umpiring denies India victory

Our Correspondent

Twice in arrears, India came from behind to hold Ukraine 2-2 in a Pool A match in the Women's World Cup hockey qualifier on Saturday.

The draw was a major setback for the Indians, who fell behind in the 13th minute from a controversial goal. The umpire blew for goal as Svitlana Kolomiyets's shot entered the cage, but the Indian players claimed that the shot was taken from outside the circle.

However, they regrouped and restored parity in the 27th minute through Surinder Kaur, who did extremely well to deflect home a shot from Manjinder Kaur.

Ukraine went ahead in immediately on resumption in the second half when Tetyana Salenko slammed a rising shot past the Indian 'keeper.

The Indians launched a feverish hunt for a reply to that goal and should have scored on a couple of occasions. But once they were denied another clear goal, or at least a penalty-stroke, after Ayshe Ramanova stopped a goal-bound shot with her foot just on or over the goalline and the umpire failed to give the advantage to the Indians.

Eventually India got the equalisier from a penalty-corner in the 57th minute, Suman Bala making no mistake with a stiff shot.

The single point India got from the match was India's fourth point from three matches.

In the first match of the day's programme, Japan whipped Malaysia 6-0 to stay on top of Pool B.

Four goals in the first quarter dashed whatever hopes the Malaysians may have entertained. Keiko Miura got three of them from penalty-corners, in the 16th, 42nd and 54th minutes, to take her individual goal tally in the tournament to six and emerge the leading scorer.

Sachimi Iwao opened the scoring from a penalty-corner in the third minute and then scored again from a field goal in the ninth minute after Sakae Morimoto had made it 2-0.

Kazakhstan and France drew goalless in a pool A match while Lithuania surprised Canada 3-2 for their first victory. Aurelija Kubilinskiene did the star turn for Lithuania scoring the first goal and then clinching the issue with a late penalty-corner goal.

Kubilinskiene opened the scoring in the 10th minute from a field goal before Becky Price could put Canada back on level terms in the 24th minute from a penalty-corner.

A minute into the second session, Joana Gulbinaite converted a penalty-stroke to make it 2-1 for Lithuania.

Canada levelled again when they too got a penalty-stroke, and Deb Cuthbert make no mistake in the 46th minute.

But a quick counter offensive immediately from the restart saw Lithuania force a penalty-corner, from which Kubilinskiene scored what turned out to be the match-winner.

At Abbeville, England improved their chances of making it to semi-finals from Group A with a 2-0 win over Ireland.

It was England fourth successive victory while Ireland suffered their first defeat from three matches.

England went ahead in the 24th minute through Purdy Miller, who deflected a shot from Anna Bennett into goal. Rachel Walker made it 2-0 with a crisp shot from a penalty-corner in the 58th minute.

In the closing minutes, both teams wasted penalty-strokes with Jane Smith scooping over the bar for England and Jenny Burke failing to pack any power behind her try.

Scotland were convincing winners over Belgium, winning 4-0.

Sue MacDonald, Claire Lampard, Alison Grant and Rhona Simpson were the scorers.

Earlier reports
Day 1: Indian eves start on winning note
Day 2: Japan score big win
Day 3: Indian women lose to Ireland
Day 4: Kazakhstan give England a fright
Day 5: Scotland score first win