India's Cup hat-trick

INDIA won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament for a record third time when they edged Olympic champions Germany 5-4 on penalties after both teams played to a 2-2 draw in the final at the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The Indians led twice in the match but the Germans' superior penalty-corner set-piece moves provided the equaliser for the match to end in a draw at the end of regulation time.

In the nerve-wrecking penalty shootout, the Indians had Ashish Ballal to thank when he saved the all-important fifth flick taken by Germany's experienced Michael Green.