The Indian hockey team's build-up to the Athens Olympic Games received a shot in the arm on Sunday when it won a four-nation hockey tournament in Hamburg (Germany) beating Spain 4-2 in its last match.
India, who won two of their three matches while losing the other, finished the tournament with six points, one ahead of world champions Germany.
Germany, whose only victory in the tournament came against India on Saturday, played out their second draw of the tournament on Sunday against Argentina (4-4) in the last match of the event, according to information received in Delhi.
The Indians were in full control for the most part of their game against Spain and at one point enjoyed a 3-0 advantage.
Kanwalpreet Singh scored the first goal as early as the third minute. Gagan Ajit Singh added to the tally through a penalty corner in the 18th minute and Deepak Thakur's goal in the 24th minute saw India surge ahead to a 3-0 lead before Spain could score their first goal.
Eduardo Aguilar scored a field goal to re-energise the Spanish team just before half-time.
Spain narrowed the score line to 3-2 in the 56th minute when Juan Escarre scored through the team's fifth penalty corner.
But just three minutes later, Dilip Tirkey added to India's tally through a field goal.
India's triumph in the tournament follows a successful tour of Australia earlier this month for a two-leg event, of which India won one and finished runners-up in the other.
"It has really been a fabulous performance by our boys in this tournament. We played extremely well in all the three matches, even in the 3-2 loss against the world champions," coach Rajinder Singh told PTI.
"We have been experimenting with our strategies and they have paid off. The boys have been doing well consistently and I am sure they will carry on the good work not only in the Champions Trophy in July and but till the Athens Olympic Games next year," he said.
