A day of joys and sorrows for India
21 Mar 2012 | Davide Tuniz
India wins its first ever international game at IIHF Asia Challenge in the morning but takes 18 goals in the afternoon game against Malaysia
India - Macau 5-1 (0-0,1-2,0-3)A day to remember for Indian icehockey: in the second game against Macau, after the 3-5 defeat in the opening game - India gets an historic first victory. In the final 5-1 India scored more goals in one game than ever before. MVP Ganbo Tashi and assistant captain Rinchen Tundup share the spotlights with one goal and one assist each, while goalie Sonam Gurmet close the door conceeding just one goal in 22 shots. “We were so close in the last game that I knew we could pull through,” said coach Adam Sherlip to iihf.com. “I’m incredibly happy and very proud of the team.”
India - Malaysia 2-18 (1-5 , 0-6 , 1-7)India is back on ice in late afternoon with high spirits, but Malaysia, already qualified for next round, want to keep his perfect record. Easy task for Martin Page troop: India manages to equalize first Malaysia goal with Mustaque Giri but in less then one mintue Malaysia scores again and when India notes second goal, the scoreboard showed 18 goals for Malay. As usual the star was tournament top scorer Kin Ban Loke - 3 goals and 4 assists - but also Brandon Kin Tai leaves his mark with 4 goals and 2 assists. Malaysia enters in sail in Semi-Final-Qualification Round with a game left to play against Macau, already hammered 8-1 earlier in the tournament. But also India can celebrate despite the defeat: the victory against Macau means Semi-Final Round for less then a miracle: a very unlikely Macau victory tomorrow