A spirited India broke a 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament as it came back from two goals down to stun defending champion Netherlands in the shootout after both the teams were tied 5-5 at regulation time in a thrilling bronze medal play-off match of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final here on Sunday.
India last won a medal in an international tournament way back in 1982 when it beat Pakistan 5-4 in the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.
In the shoot-out, the Indians prevailed over the Dutch 3-2 at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium and the win avenged a 1-3 defeat in the pool stage here.
After starting the match on a slow note, India produced a fine show in the last two quarters to beat the World No. 2 with relentless attacks in the second half.
The Netherlands was quick to take a 2-0 lead in the first half, courtesy some sloppy defending from the Indians, through Mirco Pruisjer (9th minute) and Niek van der Schoot (25th)’s field goals.
It was a high intensity match which produced as many as six goals in the last 10 minutes, three each to India and the Netherlands.
The Indians got their acts together after the change of ends and Ramandeep Singh (39th minute) scored from a field strike before Rupinder Pal Singh Singh converted a penalty corner in the 47th minute to level the scores.
With the teams tied at 2-2, the fourth and final quarter produced some enthralling hockey as India attacked the Dutch citadel with more purpose and vigour and it resulted in another field goal for the host when Ramandeep (51st minute) scored his second of the day.
The last six minutes of the game produced as many as five goals with the Netherlands equalising three minutes later through Van der Weerden (54th) who converted a penalty corner.
But in the very next minute Rupinder scored his second of the day when he perfectly converted a penalty stroke.
It was raining goals as India took the lead in the next minute when Akshdeep Singh (56th) found the back of the Dutch net to give India a 5-3 lead. But the Dutchmen did not sit back and fought back valiantly to score two goals in the last two minutes to take the match into shoot-out.
In the shoot-out, the Netherlands scored from its first try through Billy Bakker but Danish Mujtaba and Mohammad Amir Khan missed their attempts to make life difficult for the Indians.
Then it was left to P.R. Sreejesh to save India and the experienced goalkeeper lived up to the expectations pulling off two brilliant saves to deny Jeroen Hertzberger and Pruisejer before Birendra Lakra converted his try to make it even-stevens.
Seve van Ass, son of former India coach Paul van Ass, then converted his attempt which was followed by Indian skipper Sardar Singh's successful attempt.
But Valentin Verga shot wide the Netherlands’ last try before Manpreet Singh earned a penalty stroke for India as his attempt was obstructed by Dutch goalie Pirmin Blaak.
Rupinder made no mistake in converting the penalty stroke and securing the win for India as the crowd went into a frenzy.
