Jaded India lacked rhythm as enterprising Malaysia inflict heartbreaking semi-final loss in men's hockey

Sundeep Misra


Malaysian players celebrate their victory over India in the men's hockey semi-final clash. AP

With exactly two minutes left on the clock, Hassan Azri made the move that would define the tense, taut, error-ridden thriller that India dished out against Malaysia in the Asian Games men’s semi-final. India led 2-1. When the clock winds down, seconds ticking away with one team leading by the slender margin of a goal and a final beckoning touching distance away, certain areas start shutting down in an athlete. Gone is the focus as mentally without looking at the clock, you start believing that time is on your side. It wasn’t on Malaysia’s side either. The only difference was Malaysia were aware of the surroundings; their players understood in those last seconds that they had only one card left to play — somehow control the ball and create mayhem in the Indian striking circle. Through a majority of the four quarters, Malaysia had realised that the weakest link in the Indian line-up, on that day, was the defence.