New Delhi, June 28: India suffered a narrow defeat in their second match of the Four-Nation Hockey Tournament in Hamburg today, going down 3-2 to hosts Germany in a keenly- contested match. India took the lead through Dilip Tirkey who converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. But world champions Germany scored two quick goals early in the second half to surge ahead. F Kuntz scored in the 36th minute and K Wein sounded the board five minutes later to push the Indians back. Gagan Ajit Singh then scored a brilliant field goal to equalise for India in the 47th minute, according to information received here. With less than ten minutes to go, Germany scored the winner India made a series of attacks in the last minutes but did not succeed in finding the equaliser.

Despite the defeat, coach Rajinder Singh was happy with the team`s performance and praised his boys.


"Our boys played wonderful hockey. We kept up the pressure on the Germans till the end. It was a match in which any side could have won," Rajinder Singh told a news agency.

"Playing Germany, who are the world champions, in their own country is not a very easy task. But our boys have been playing very well and today they showed that they are improving consistently."
India had thrashed Argentina 4-1 in their first game yesterday. Tomorrow, India take on Spain in their last match.

Bureau Report