India came 5th in the 1994 World Cup at Sydney, and qualifed for the 1995 Champions Trophy. India was looking for a similar position in Atlanta, to qualify for the 1997 Champions Trophy.

After Coach Cedric took over, India improved from the 10th position in the 1990 World Cup at Lahore to 5th position in the 1994 World Cup at Sydney. Similarly, India was looking to improve upon its 7th place at the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona (our lowest ever position) to 5th or 6th place. The demanding Indian public would at least be consoled that we have improved from our performance in the previous Olympics.

Right out Mukesh Kumar had a role in all 3 of India's goals. In the 16th minute, Mukesh made an incisive run from the right flank and sent a cross to Dhanraj Pillai who relayed the ball to Gavin Ferreira. Gavin's shot was stopped by a Korean defender with his foot. Ramandeep Singh converted the resultant penalty stroke to put India a goal up.

Within 3 minutes, South Korea fought back and equalized through a penalty corner. Shin Seok Kyo found the boards with a rasping drive in the 19th minute. The two sides crossed over even at one goal apiece.

After the breather, off a free hit just outside the D, Baljit Dhillon sent the ball to Mukesh who passed it to Gavin Ferreira. Gavin dribbled past a defender and with a fine effort put the ball in the nets in the 39th minute.

Without giving a chance for Korea to regroup, India forced the pace and earned a penalty corner in the 42nd minute. Off the indirect conversion, Mohammed Riaz passed the ball to Mukesh Kumar who slammed it home. India was sitting pretty with a 3-1 lead. Nobody in the stands thought India could lose after dominating the match thus far.

The determined South Koreans started their blitzkreig in the 49th minute. Park Shin Heun's cracking drive off a penalty corner beat the goal keeper all ends up. Korea had reduced the margin to only one goal. Then, with only 4 minutes before the final whistle, Shin Seok Kyo converted the third penalty corner to bring South Korea back into the game.

Now came the penalty stroke shoot out, as the teams ended the regulation time at 3-3. All five Koreans converted, while for India, Mohammed Riaz, Gavin and Baljit Dhillon converted. Ramandeep came up to take the stroke but failed to beat the goal keeper Koo Jin Soo. India had lost the match.

When it mattered most, India failed to deliver. When India needed a win against Pakistan to stay in contention, we drew. When India needed a win against South Korea to finish in the top 6 in the world, we lost. When there was nothing at stake, India went on to beat previously undefeated Spain. The Indian team needs a lesson in mental toughness and battle hardiness. Inconsistency is the privilege of the mediocre.

All 3 goals that India conceded were from penalty corners. While our penalty corner conversion is nothing much to write about, our weakness in penalty corner defence stood exposed in this match.

One weapon that India has failed to acquired in its arsenal is the use of the scoop during penalty corners. Korea used the scoop with telling effect to score the third goal. In the Holland - Germany semi final, Taco van der Honert scored off two scoops during penalty corners, one to each side of the goal keeper. Since India's repertoire is limited, the opposing goal keeper just lies sprawled on the ground knowing that there will be no aerial ball.

India meets Britain to fight for the 7th and 8th place. The first time these two countries met in the Olympics was in the 1948 London Olympics final, where the two battled it out for the Gold Medal. How times have changed. If India wins, it maintains its seventh place ranking that it acquired at Barcelona. If India loses, it would have acquired its lowest ever place in the Olympics.