JOHANNESBURG: Tushar Khandekar and Yuvraj Walmiki scored two goals each as India spanked Poland 7-0 to ensure itself top spot in group A in the Champions Challenge hockey tournament on Tuesday.
India will take on Pool B's fourth-placed Malaysia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
India and Belgium both finished with seven points after Belgium prevailed 2-1 over hosts South Africa, but Tuesday's comprehensive win gave India a much superior goal difference that clinched the top spot in Pool A.
The other quarterfinals will see Pan-American champions Argentina play Poland while Belgium are pitted against Canada and South Africa will meet Japan.
India enjoyed complete domination against Poland, who have lost all their three preliminary league matches with huge margins.
To start with, India had a narrow shave in the 11th minute when Polish captain Dariusz Rachwalski's deflection on a penalty corner went just wide with he defenders beaten.
Walmiki opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he deflected Manjeet Kulu's long diagonal shot past the goalkeeper.
Newspaper:Times Of India,30th Nov
