Hockey: Germany and India in form

Germany did just enough yesterday to return to the top of the men's Champions Trophy here with a 2-1 win against Korea, but it was the game between India and Pakistan which held the interest. In a dramatic encounter, the young Indian side ran out deserved winners 3-2.

With 14 of the squad of 16 aged 22 or under, it was a triumph for youth but it was Dhanraj Pillay, approaching his 35th birthday, who stole the honours. The striker's persistence paid off in the 21st minute as he wove through the Pakistan defence to lay the ball off to Prabhjot Singh for the opening goal.

Within two minutes a fumbled shot by Ali Ghazanfar at last beat the Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan for the equaliser. Dhanraj was again involved in winning a penalty corner just before the interval which his captain Dilip Tirkey drove into the Pakistan net. Then midway through the second half Dhanraj collected a Dajit Singh cross to send Gagan Ajit Singh away to extend India's lead. With 15 minutes remaining Sohail Abbas scored from Pakistan's fifth penalty corner. But Dilip Tirkey and Kanwaljit Singh and Devesh were equal to all that Pakistan could throw at them, hanging on for a deserved victory.