Rejuvenating the dampened Indian spirits, Indian hockey team defeated France with a magnificent 8-1 in the qualifying final at the National Stadium in Delhi on Sunday and ensured its march to the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.
With the victory, the Indian team returns to the Olympics platform after 8 years. The Indian team failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2008 held in Chile.
The Indians’ victory in the qualifying match over Franch comes as a saving grace after the women team’s failure in making the trip to London and provided relief to the six leading players Bharat Chetri, V.R. Raghunath, Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandker, Sardar Singh and Ignace Tirkey who were part of India’s failed attempt to make the Olympics in 2008.
Sandeep Singh earned five goals, including a second hat-trick in the tournament.
The results
Final: India 8 (Birendra Lakra 17; Sandeep Singh 19, 26, 38, 49, 51; S.V. Sunil 43; V.R. Raghunath 56) bt France 1 (Simon Martin-Brisac 24).
Final standings: 1. India, 2. France, 3. Canada, 4. Poland, 5. Italy, 6. Singapore.
