Three-times champions India bounced back from two defeats to beat Canada 3-1 in the 17th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Sunday. However, with 12 juniors in their squad, they paid a heavy price as penalty corner specialist and their only goalscorer Sandeep Singh injured his knee and was stretchered off in the 30th minute.
Later hosts Malaysia notched their first win of the tournament by beating New Zealand at the Azlan Shah Stadium in northern Perak state, while Argentina and Pakiistan fought out a tight draw India, who were previously beaten 4-3 by New Zealand and 5-1 by Argentina, went on the offensive from the start and earned a penalty corner in the third minute.
But defender Singh's flick was well saved by Canada goalkeeper Michael Mahood. Canada, who have qualified for the Beijing Olympics, earned a penalty corner five minutes later but Wayne Fernandes was unable to convert.
But the Canadians were awarded another penalty corner and this time Fernandes' high flick sailed paast goalkeeper Adrian D'souza India then pushed forward in search of goals but, despite earning two more penalty corners, went in at half-time trailing 1-0 but not before Singh was taken off with a knee injury.
In the second half India, who failed to qualify for the Beijing Games, kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty stroke in the 44th minute after a Canadian defender stopped the ball with his body. Diwakar Ram made no mistake from the spot to level the score.
Seven minutes later, Ram, who was top scorer in the eight-nation invitational junior meet in Kuala Lumpur in January with 12 goals, put India in front from a penalty corner.
India increased their lead in the 53rd minute through Shivendra Singh, who slotted home from close range. After the match India coach A. K. Bansal said the team were relieved with the win, adding: "The victory has boosted the players' morale to give their best in the (next) match against Belgium. I was delighted with Diwakar's performance as he scored two goals in the absence of Sandeep."
He said Singh would miss the match against Belgium on Tuesday, but added: "I hope he can recover in time for our match against Pakistan on Thursday." Malaysia, meanwhile, bounced back from defeat to surprise New Zealand 2-0 in the second match of the day.
Malaysia, who lost their first match 3-2 to Pakistan, took the lead through midfielder Azlan Misron in the 34th minute. They increased their lead nine minutes later off another field goal through forward S. Selvaraju.
In the final match of the evening, Argentina came from behind twice to hold three-time champions Pakistan to a 3-3 draw. Pakistan took the lead through Muhammad Zubair in the 10th minute but Pedro Ibarra levelled for Argentina off a penalty corner 20 minutes later.
Despite retaking the lead in the 44th minute off a penalty corner by Muhammad Saqlain, the joy was short lived. Argentina stormed back to score six minutes later through Ignacio Juan Gilardi, with Ricardo Ignacio Bergner giving them the lead six minutes after that. But Waqas Akhbar saved the day for Pakistan by scoring an equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Pakistan could have won the match but defender Muhammad Ateeq's flick from a penalty corner hit the cross-bar in the dying seconds. Both teams now have seven points from two wins and a draw but Argentina top the standings with a better goal difference.