India rally to draw 1-1 with China in Azlan Shah hockey

IPOH - Ravi Pal Singh struck a last-minute goal as defending champions India drew level 1-1 with China in their opening match of Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here Thursday.

Sun Tianjun put China ahead in the 13th minute before India stepped up the attack. But India failed to convert their chances and wasted five penalty corners. Ravi took advantage of a goalmouth scramble barely 17 seconds before the hooter to score the equaliser.

India will next play arch rivals Pakistan Friday.

In another match, Pakistan, too, found the equaliser in the dying minutes to hold home team Malaysia 3-3.

For Malaysia Hafifihafiz Hanafi struck twice while Amin Rahim scored one goal. Pakistan, who got their act together in the second half, scored through Shafaquat Rasool and in the final seconds by Irfan Muhammad.

Korea proved too good for Egypt, registering a 6-0 victory.

Results:

China 1 (Sun Tunjian) drew with India 1 (Ravi Pal)

Korea 6 (Hyun Nam Woo (3), Kim Young Jin, Lee Nam Young, Yu Wio Suk) beat Egypt 0

Malaysia 3 (Hafifihafiz Hanafi (2), Amin Rahim) drew with Pakistan 3 (Rasool Hafquat, Ifran Muhammad, Zubhair Mohammad))