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CHANDIGARH, India: The Netherlands won the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup field hockey tournament with a 2-1 win over hosts India in the final on Monday.
The Dutch came from behind after India had taken the lead in the 43rd minute through Sandeep Singh's penalty stroke when Shivendra Singh was brought down inside the circle.
Jeroen Hertzberger drew level four minutes later and then scored the match-winner in the 68th minute to silence a sell-out crowd of 22,000 at the Sector 42 stadium.
The Dutch, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics last August, are preparing for the elite six-nation Champions Trophy to be held in Melbourne, Australia in November.
India, the eight-time Olympic champions who failed to qualify for Beijing, are focussed on the Asia Cup in Dubai in May.
Meanwhile, New Zealand defeated Olympic champions Germany 3-2 in the play-off for the 3/4 places after Joel Baker scored the winner in the penultimate minute of the match.
Both teams were locked 1-1 at half-time.
Germany took the lead through Maxmillan Muller in the 15th minute, but Andren Hayward drew level nine minutes later.
Two penalty strokes in as many minutes, one by either team, ensured a dramatic second-half before Baker's late winner gave the Black Sticks victory. - AFP/de
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