An injury-hit India proved no match to defending champions Australia as it lost 0-3 in a lop-sided semifinal clash today and will now have to fight it out for a bronze in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here.
Australia scored through captain Jamie Dwyer (fifth and 18th minutes)
and Kieran Govers (42nd minute) after enjoying territorial domination against the Indians, who were often forced to fall back and defend against the rampant rival strikers.
Australia stayed on course for their fifth successive title, setting up a final against Olympic silver medallists Netherlands, who outplayed Pakistan 5-2 in the other semifinal.
India's Cinderella run came to an end, but they stay in contention for their first Champions Trophy medal in three decades. India will now take on Pakistan on Sunday, in a sub-continental clash for the bronze medal.
India's only Champions Trophy medal, a bronze, came in 1982. Pakistan edged past India to claim bronze medals for three successive years from 2002-04.