Hockey: After 38 years, India enter Champions Trophy final

The Indian men’s hockey team were handed a historic maiden final appearance in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy against formidable Australia after hosts Great Britain held Belgium to a 3-3 draw in the final round robin match here on Thursday night.

This will be India’s first appearance in the summit clash since the inception of the blue-riband six-nation tournament back in 1978.

India’s only podium finish was a bronze in 1982 at Amsterdam. In what would be the team’s best ever performance in the event, India are assured of at least a silver after making the final.

India will thank Great Britain, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to hold Belgium in a cliffhanger at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. This was after India lost 2-4 to title favourites Australia in their last round robin encounter.

The draw between Britain and Belgium meant both sides finished behind India in the round-robin league, paving the way for P.R. Sreejesh-led squad to play the world champions in Friday’s title clash.

Australia topped the league standings with 13 points from five games, while India ended on seven. Great Britain ended on six points and Belgium were left on four.

Britain will feature in the bronze medal match with dethroned title holders Germany, who outplayed South Korea 7-0. This was Germany’s biggest win over the Koreans in international matches. Belgium take on the Koreans in the play-off for the fifth position.

Starting the day’s proceedings with a 2-4 loss to top-ranked Australia, the Indian players went through a pensive wait for the result of the last league fixture as both Great Britain and Belgium could have scraped ahead of India.

Britain simply required a victory to go past India on points, while Belgium needed to win by three goals or score at least four in a two-goal margin to finish ahead of India on goal difference.