Dhanraj & Co chokes, yet again](http://www.fieldhockey.com/)
ATHENS: Indian hockey team started their Olympic campaign on a dismal note, bowing to defending champions Holland 1-3 in their opening Pool B match here on Sunday.
The defeat came as a jolt to the Indians, who are seeking to regain an Olympic medal after a gap of 24 years – the last being a gold in the boycott-marred Moscow Games in 1980.
Marten Eikelboom started the scoring for the winners with a second minute strike before Teun de Nooijer (50th) and Taeke Taekema (54th) added to the tally in the second half.
India’s consolation goal came through Gagan Ajit Singh with just one minute to go for the hooter.
The Indians, who came to the tournament with two foreign coaches, Gerhard Rach and Oliver Kurtz, and months of training in foreign institutes, failed to make much impression.
After conceding a goal early on, they got a number of chances to equalise. But all the star perfomers Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur and Dhanraj Pillay failed to make the most of the opportunities they got.
All the three made some fine solo runs only to see their effort fizzle out near the opposition circle in the face of some smart work by the Dutch defenders and seasoned goalkeeper Guus Vogels.
If India’s performance in the first half was patchy, it was no better in the second as they struggled for ball possession against some good stick work by the winners.
The only bright spot in India’s play was the work of captain Dilip Tirkey, midfielder Viren Rasquinha and goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza, who thwarted several Dutch attempts.
The side suffered a setback in the 54th minute when Dilip Tirkey left the field after being hit on the head by a Taekema shot from a set-piece that deflected off the stick of William Xalco. Gagan Ajit’s goal came too late as the Indians had left with absolutely no time to make a comeback.
The Indians need to beat South Africa in their next match on Tuesday to be in the hunt for a place in the semifinals.
In other matches of the competition, Australia thrashed their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 4-1 in Pool B. In the same pool, South Africa beat Argentina 2-1. In Pool A, Germany beat Pakistan 2-1, Korea drew Spain 1-1 and Great Britain beat Egypt 3-1.
yes too much cricket.