By K. Arumugam, Media Officer, Indira Gandhi Gold Cup

Hosts India ensured a medal at the Indira Gold Cup when it defeated gritty New Zealand in its third league match to make it to Saturday's final.

India last won a medal in 1994 as runners up to Korea at Amritsar.

Technically, India now has the choice of choosing its rival for the final. If India can defeat Australia, last league for both teams, New Zealand will have chance to enter final with good score against their last match rivals Malaysia. For Australia, even a draw will be suffice to make it to the final.

In an equally fought encounter, India availed the chances better than the better ranked New Zealand.

After an intense, eventful but goalless first half, Sanggai Chanu broke the deadlock in a set piece exercise (50th minute). Ten minutes Saba Anjum enlarged the lead. Saba returned from the women's Junior World Cup only lat week and with five goals, tops the scorers' list.

If not for both goalkeepers, India's Helen Mary and Anita Wawatai, the scoreboard would have moved faster. Both were confidence personified today.

Honor Dillon scored her tournament's second goal in the 64th minute but that's all the Kiwis could do.

ÔÇ£Tough conditions, good opposition. This was how the Kiwi's coach Ian Rutledge summed up the day.

Before this, Australia overcame the fighting Italy 4-1 to obtain full points. It could be fair said that the scoreline does not do any justice to the valiant Italians, who got three of their four penalty corners in the first 15 minutes.

Australian coach Frank Murray admitted it tacitly.

ÔÇ£It's ok with the win, but I feel my team has to play more disciplined hockey. That factor is lacking right now in my team,ÔÇØ he said.

Italian coach Argentinean Franco talked about the improvement his team made in the tournament in terms of developing into a good force. He has reasons to be happy because no team could outplay them contrary to pre-tournament projections.

ÔÇ£We have not produced winning results. Each member of the Australian team has 50, 60 caps, but we don't get to play that much. We are making steady progress,ÔÇØ he said.

ÔÇ£Our first aim is to reach Pool A status in Europe, that is, being able to compete against teams like Holland, Germany and others. The Italian player base is meagre and if we can achieve this much that will be good.

ÔÇ£Presently, we play about 10 to 15 matches in a year. I wish to play about 25-30 matches a year to make genuine improvement.


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