The Indian men’s hockey team will square it off with Spain in their 5th place playoff match in the Hockey World League Round 3 — a qualification event for next year’s World Cup — here on Sunday.
India thrashed France 6-2 in the classification game a day ago, while Spain managed a 1-0 win over the gritty Ireland.
Australia and Belgium will clash in the final, while Holland face New Zealand in the third place playoff. The top three teams will earn a direct berth to the quadrennial event.
On Saturday, Indian women registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Chile to finish seventh.
The 12th-placed Indians might be ranked six rungs above Chile in world rankings, but they were given a hard time by their South American rivals in the seventh place classification game. The Indian girls had to sweat it out to overcome a goal deficit and tame Chile after Camila Caram had given the South American side the lead in the 44th minute through a penalty corner conversion.
Ritusha Kumari Arya restored parity for India three minutes later, pushing in from close range past goalkeeper Claudia Schuler, off a Lilima Minz pass from the baseline.
Chanchan Devi Thokchom scored the winner in the 56th minute from a goalmouth melee.
Chile had several chances to pull level, but they failed to encash on the opportunities.