MALAYSIA gave their best, but still it was not enough to deny India the Asia Cup hockey gold medal in Dhaka, Bangladesh, tonight.
After reaching the final for the first time in 35 years, India denied Malaysia cup glory with a 2-1 victory.
The national players were placed in a tight spot in the third minute itself, when Ramandeep Singh scored the opening goal, and the ghost of the 6-2 drubbing in the round robin soon emerged.
The Malaysian midfield was completely at sea, just like in the first three quarters against South Korea, and India players had a field day breaking into the
semicircle to take pot shots at goalkeeper S. Kumar.
Kumar pulled off a handful of magnificant saves before India took a 2-0 lead off Lalit Upadhyay in the 29th and the score remained until the half-time break.
Shahril Saabah ignited the fight-back with a field goal in the 50th minute, and India protested, but lost their video referral as well.
And with three minutes left in the match, coach Stephen van Huizen took out goalkepeer S. Kumar for an extra outfield playher in a last gasp attempt to draw the match and take it to a penalty shoot out.
The tactic worked in Malaysia's famous 1-1 draw against South Korea, but even though it pinned India in their own semi-circle, Malaysia failed to score.