India lose 0-3 to Pakistan

India failed to convert any of the six penalty-corners they forced and lost 0-3 to Pakistan in the four-nation Junior hockey tournament in Lahore on Tuesday.

Pakistan converted three of their five penalty-corners via skipper Shakeel Abbasi, Mohammand Kalid Mahmood and Mohammad Imran to blank India, who played their first match in the tournament.

The victory assured Pakistan a place in the final of the tournament.

India secured three penalty-corners in the last eight minutes but could not convert any.

Pakistan led 1-0 at lemon time through Abbasi, who sounded the board from their first penalty-corner, in the 30th minute.

In the second half, Pakistan found the net twice in 10 minutes from their second and third penalty-corners.

Mohd. Khalid Mahmood found the net with a devastating push, three minutes before getting marching orders because of a rough tackle, while Mohd. Imran's carpet drive beat the defender on the goalline after goalkeeper P R Shreejesh was beaten as he charged out.

India will play South Africa at 1330 IST on Wednesday.

In another thrilling game of the day, Japan, after leading 3-1 at half-time, needed a last-minute goal from Hiroto Noda to snatch a point against South Africa.

South Africa scored three goals in 15 minutes in the second half to surge to a 4-3 lead before Noda levelled the scores.

For South Africa, Leroy Phillips (10), Lungile Tsolekile (46), Wayne Madsen (62) and Andrew Cronje (67) scored while Tsuyoshi Fujimaki (4), Kazuki Shiokawa (23), Tomonori One (35) and Hiroto Noda (70) scored for Japan.