Two classification matches happen on the same day the medals for the women's World Cup event will be handed out. For the men, India out-paced Korea for a 3-0 win to finish 9th overall, while New Zealand women and China battle it out for 5th place.
MEN 9/10th: India v Korea 3-0 (1-0)
The 9/10 classification match between India and Korea was a contrast in styles. Korea's game is based upon their physicality and fitness, while India play skilful, attacking hockey, that can sometimes unravel under pressure. Fortunately for Sardar Singh and his teammates, today was the day that India found both their attacking flair and, for the most part, their defensive discipline. The result was a comfortable 3-0 victory for the team ranked eighth in the world. India opened their account through Akashdeep Singh (6') and Korea really had no answers.
At half-time, India coach Terry Walsh asked for more attacking play and for his team to look to go on the fore-front, not to simply defend their 1-0 lead, and his team responded, despite spending 10 minutes with one less player. The goal scorers were Singh with two goals and a penalty stroke scored by Rupinder Singh. The result means that India finish ninth, one place below their FIH World Ranking and Korea finish three places below their seventh place ranking.
WOMEN 5/6th: New Zealand v China 4-0 (1-0)
A brace for the Black Sticks queen of speed Anita Punt helped New Zealand record a 4-0 victory over China in the 5/6 classification match at the Kyocera Stadium.
Punt (6') opened the scoring with a trade-mark drag flick penalty corner as New Zealand sought to end their World Cup campaign in fifth place, a position that matches their FIH World Ranking. It was not all one-way traffic however, and New Zealand have Bianca Russell – who replaced Sally Rutherford in goal for this match – to thank for the clean sheet. China came close to equalising through, firstly, Yan Yan and then Huang Ting in a period of China pressure in the first half.
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