India retain Azlan Shah Cup title

Defending champions India retained the Azlan Shah Cup hockey title, winning it for the fifth time, after they were declared joint winners with South Korea as heavy rains washed out the final on Sunday.

Only seven minutes of play was possible before rains came down heavily at the Azlan Shah Stadium. The teams were declared joint winners after over an hour following incessant rains.

"After discussions and consultations between Tournament Director Paul Richards, the organising committee, with the consent of His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah decided that India and Korea will be joint champions for the 19th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup," the organisers said in a statement. India won the tournament for the fifth time and second in a row. They had earlier won the championship in 1985, 1991, 1995 and 2009.

This is the first time in the history of the tournament that the title was shared by two teams.
Rain played havoc on the last day of the tournament. Australia won the bronze, beating Malaysia 5-3 while Pakistan ended up in fifth place when they defeated China 6-5 on penalty strokes in the rain-marred contest.

Notwithstanding the final day dampner, India had an impressive outing and finished at the top of the seven-team pool with 13 points.


In Image: South Korea's players, in red, and India's players pose with trophies during prize presentation after their final match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup field hockey tournament in Ipoh on Sunday, May 16, 2010. India and South Korea were named joint champions in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup field hockey tournament after rain disrupted the finals in Malaysia.