Antwerp (Belgium): India’s defence crumbled in the bronze medal playoff as they crashed to a 1-5 defeat against Great Britain for a fourth-place finish at the Hockey World League semi-finals, here on Sunday. Goals from Alastair Brogdon (11th minute), Chris Griffiths (27th), Ashley Jackson (37th), Adam Dixon (42nd) and captain Barry Middleton (44th) gave Britain a five-goal lead before India pulled one back through Rupinderpal Singh’s penalty corner conversion in the 59th minute.
Britain took the lead in the 11th minute when Brogdon got a touch to a reverse shot from Dan Fox into the right corner of the Indian goal. Britain’s second goal game in the 27th minute after he quick clearance saw Nick Catlin send a long ball down the middle that Griffiths deflected into the goal with the Indian defence just not in the frame.
Jackson and Dixon scored two quick goals and captain Middleton capitalised on a cross from Ward two minutes later to make it 5-0. All four semi-finalists from this event qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, with India making the grade as the gold medallists at the Incheon Asian Games. Malaysia was defeated by Ireland 4-2 in the playoff for the fifth-place. Pakistan suffered another defeat on the day as France beat them 2-1 in the playoff for the seventh and eighth spots.
