Ipoh (Malaysia), May 12: India coach Harendra Singh found it inexplicable in the manner his side let in soft goals during their humiliating 3-7 defeat against New Zealand in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today. The crushing defeat dashed chances of a podium finish for the title holders.
India squandered the lead thrice before Andrew Hayward produced a hat-trick of drag-flicked goals to put the Black Sticks in command and ended India's chance of claiming a medal in the event, which they won outright in 2009 and were joint champions along with South Korea last year.
India will now have to play the classification match for the fifth and sixth positions on Sunday.
"I have no answer to what happened, especially in the second half," said Harendra, accepting his side played "very badly". "You can't win if you gift goals on a platter". PTI
