New Delhi: India have booked a place for themselves in the final of the Olympic qualification match in hockey.
India beat Chile 4-1 at Santiago on Sunday at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile, to qualify for the final.
India were in a weak position after Great Britain beat them 3-2 on Friday. But now they've moved up on the points table and will face Great Britain again on Monday for the crucial match.
Great Britain beat Austria 4-0 to enter the final. The winner of the final will qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
For India drag-flick specialist V Ramachandra Raghunath scored two goals (23rd minute, 61st). One of his goals came from the lone penalty corner that India earned.
The other two goals came from the sticks of Prabhjot Singh (ninth) and Bharat Chhikara (23rd). Raghunath has now scored 10 goals in the tournament and is the leading scorer of the tournament going into the final. Prabhjot is at the second place with eight goals.
Chile's goal scored by Felipe Montegu, He, too, converted the lone penalty that that his team got in the 63rd minute.
India finished second in the points tally behind leader Britain (15 points) with 12 points, followed by Austria (three), Russia (six), Chile (three) and Mexico (zero).
Despite enjoying superior ball possession and dominating the match the Indians missed many chances as the Chilean players threw everything into defending their citadel.
Gurbaj Singh and Shivendra Singh were rested for the match.
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