India get Olympic boost with Azlan Shah bronze

For India, the win over Britain has given them the much needed boost ahead of the 2012 London Games.

India dominated the match, but squandered several scoring opportunities to concede the lead to pre-tournament favourites Great Britian before staging a spirited comeback in the second session.

Shivendra Singh (42nd minute), Sandeep Singh(52nd) and Tushar Khandekar (69th) scored for India after Ashley Jackson (35th) put Great Britain ahead at the stroke of half time.

India had earlier lost 2-3 to Great Britain, world\\\’s fourth ranked side, in their round robin league encounter, but Michael Nobbs\\\’ boys played a composed game.

Earlier,  India had defeated Pakistan in their final league match of the tournament on Thursday.

The team’s coach Micheal Nobbs is delighted with the bronze medal showing and said his wards did enough to finish on the podium.

“I’m obviously very pleased. It’s a good win and a medal here is what we were aiming at. We would’ve loved to win the title, but we have done well to get on the podium,” Nobbs said at the post-match press conference.

Nobbs was of the view that erstwhile champions India need to play more tough opponents in the run up to the London Olympics in order to improve their game.

“We need more tough matches to improve, and that’s what were were seeking when we decided to come here,” he said.