India defeated South Africa 7-4 in their second Pool A match of the Champions Challenge hockey here Sunday.
South Africa’s Justin Reid-Ross (7th minute) opened the scoring before Sandeep Singh (13th, 35th), and Sarvanjit Singh (29th) gave India a 3-1 lead by the half-time. But South Africa, egged on by the home support, bounced back in the second half.

Marvin Harper (38th) cut down the margin before Indian captain Tushar Khandekar (41st) increased the lead to 4-2. Miguel de Garcia (45th) and Tim Drummond (49th) levelled the scores before India slammed three more goals in as many minutes to break the deadlock.

S.V. Sunil (55, 57th) scored while Rupinder Pal Singh struck through a penalty stroke in the 56th minute and the hosts, stunned by the blitz, could not recover.

India saved the best until last and turned on the style in front of the biggest crowd of the day.
The match was in the balance into the final quarter with South Africa continually fighting their way back.

Gareth Carr, South Africa defender, is hopeful of returning to the fray Tuesday after receiving 14 stitches in two head wounds when he was hit by an Indian stick.

India had drawn 3-3 with Belgium in the first match.

All Indian players will compete in WSH despite dispute: organisers
Dismissing threats of a possible ban by Hockey India on local players participating in the World Series Hockey (WSH), the organisers of the multi—million dollar tournament said that all those who have signed up will certainly play in the upcoming event.

 “I am extremely happy to say that all Indian players who have signed up for the WSH will 100 per cent play in the event,” said Yannick Colaco, chief operating officer of Nimbus Sports, which has floated the League in association with the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

IHF, headed by R K Shetty, is not recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) which has given affiliation to rival body Hockey India, and has declared WSH as an unsanctioned tournament. Colaco, after the announcement of the players draft today, said WSH’s dates were scheduled as an ideal preparation for the national team ahead of next year’s Olympic qualifiers in Delhi.

 “As per the dates announced earlier, the camp for the pre—Olympic qualifiers was to start on January 24 and WSH ends on January 22. We had fixed the dates to prepare the Indian team for the Olympic qualifiers,” he said.

Asked about the reported threat of Pakistan Hockey Federation to stop its players from taking part in the WSH, Colaco said, “We have not received any letter from the PHF yet.”

 “All the players who have signed up are going to play.
In fact, the government has cleared their visas. Three off them are arriving on December 1, and the rest on December 5,” he added.