India, South Africa to play-off
for third place

Two late goals from penalty-corners enabled India get the better of Russia 3-2 and finish in third position in the first women’s Champions Challenge hockey tournament, in Randburg, South Africa, on Friday.

Korea took the top spot in the six-team league after they beat the United States 1-0 and England were shocked 3-0 by South Africa.

The Koreans, who finished with 12 points, will take on England, who were second with 10, in the final on Sunday.

India and South Africa will play-off for the third and fourth places. The United States and Russia play for fifth and sixth places.

Jyoti Sunita Kullu opened the scoring for India with a penalty-corner conversion in the 14th minute.

The Indians held a distinct edge thereafter but had to stay content with a solitary goal lead till the breather.

However, it was the Russians who surprised in the second session as they slammed in two goals early through Ekaterina Rastorgueva, in the 44th and 46th minutes, to take the lead.

But India raised their game and replied with two goals in a spell of eight minutes from the end, from penalty-corners, to take the match. Suman Bala and Sanggain Maimom Channu were the scorers.

Korea had to fight hard to get the better of the United States, who came up with perhaps their best match in the tournament.

Captain Lee Eun Young scored Korea's only goal in the eighth minute.

England were taken by surprise by South Africa's hard running. The South Africans forced nine penalty-corners to England’s three.

Susan Wessels converted one in the 33rd minute and Jen Wilson added another in the 59th.

The home side’s third goal came from penalty-stroke, awarded when striker Pietie Coetzee was brought down in the circle in the 68th minute.Coetzee too the stroke and converted it.

Final points standings:
1. Korea 12
2. England 9
3. India 8
4. South Africa 7
5. United States 5
6. Russia 0.

Earlier reports
India go down fighting to Korea
US deny India full points with late goal
Indian eves scrape past South Africa
India rally to hold England