Rupinderpal's brace seals bronze for India

Rupinderpal Singh converted two penalty corners as India outclassed New Zealand 4-0 to clinch a bronze medal in the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, here on Saturday. Rupinderpal sent identical ground drag-flicks into the corner past New Zealand goalkeeper Richard Joyce's outstretched right hand in the 17th and 27th minutes.

SV Sunil then scored his first goal of the tournament in the 48th minute as he captitalised on a cross from Mandeep Singh into the goalmouth, while Talwinder Singh rounded off India's scoring in the last minute. Earlier, Malaysia defeated Japan 3-1 in the playoff to decide the fifth place in the tournament standings. Having failed to earn a place in the final after a listless show in the last preliminary league encounter against Malaysia on Friday, India gave an improved display to clinch the bronze medal a shade below their silver medal behind Australia in the tournament last year.

Combining well, the Indian strikers showed purpose when they moved into the rival territory, but India missed three sitters in the first quarter that ended goalless. India started with two successive penalty corners in the second minute of play, but the rushers denied Harmanpreet Singh a good look at the goal.

In the next minute, a soft error by the Black Sticks defenders saw Mandeep gain possession of the ball and move into the scoring area, but his reverse drive from the top of the circle was deflected by the goalkeeper. In the other match, Great Britain won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title after a gap of 23 years with a rousing 4 -3 victory in the final against defending champions Australia here on Saturday.

Entering the final for the first time since their lone title win in 1994, Great Britain led all the way after securing an early lead in the eighth minute.