NZ throw india out of medal race

India’s medal hopes in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament went up in smoke as New Zealand rode on a penalty corner hattrick by Andrew Hayward to humiliate the title holders 7-3 in their last round-robin league match here on Thursday.

India’s medal hopes in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament went up in smoke as New Zealand rode on a penalty corner hattrick by Andrew Hayward to humiliate the title holders 7-3 in their last round-robin league match here on Thursday.

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India squandered the lead thrice before Hayward produced a hat-trick of drag-flicked goals to put the Black Sticks in command and spoil India’s chance of claiming a medal in the event, which they won outright in 2009 and were joint champions along with South Korea last year.

By virtue of this loss, India slipped to the fifth position in the seven-team round-robin league table, which is being headed by world champions Australia, who defeated Great Britain 2-1 earlier in the day. They now have 13 points.