Hockey

Pakistan game will be the usual tough encounter: Michael Nobbs

IBNLive Sports | Updated Mar 12, 2013 at 09:28am IST

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New Delhi: With two out of two defeats, India can't settle for anything less than a win when they meet archrivals Pakistan in their third match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, but coach Michael Nobbs feels a wounded Pakistan and India's lack of experience may have a telling effect on the game.

Pakistan are coming from a 0-6 hammering they got from Australia in their last match, after securing a hard-fought 4-3 win against New Zealand in the tournament opener. India, on the other hand, are still without a win having lost to Australia 3-4 and Korea 1-2.

But a match against Pakistan brings the best out of Indian players, and Nobbs, talking to IBNLive.com from Malaysia, said this match will be no different and prove to be "the usual tough encounter".

Pakistan game will be the usual tough encounter: Nobbs

Michael Nobbs is hopeful that India will put up a much better show against Pakistan than the previous two games.

"The game against Pakistan will be the usual tough encounter, and Pakistan - coming off a thrashing by Australia - will be certainly trying to make amends for that result," he said as the young Indian team, which has ten under-21 players in the squad, prepares for the big match.

India are currently sharing the last position on the leaderboard with New Zealand - with both the teams yet to open their account and having a goal difference of -2 each. But Nobbs says his young team's inexperience could have an effect on the result on Tuesday, indicating Pakistan begin as favourites.

"We have lost the first two games by just lack of experience and this may be a telling factor in this next game. However, we will certainly be trying for a good result for our team and our first victory," he concluded.

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Hockey

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Posted on Mar 17, 2013 at 08:51PM IST
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is an annual field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It began in 1983 as a biennial contest. The tournament became an annual event after 1998, following its growth and popularity. The tournament is named after the n ...

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