Hockey WC: Germany, South Korea book quarterfinal berths
Bhubaneswar, Jan 23: South Korea stunned 2016 Olympic champions Argentina in the penalty shootout to book a quarterfinal berth, while Germany also reached the last eight stage after an easy 5-1 win over France in the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup here on Monday.
The South Koreans, who had finished third in Pool B, won 3-2 in the penalty shootout after the two sides were locked 5-5 in regulation time in an entertaining and high high-scoring crossover match at the near-full Kalinga Stadium.
They rode on an inspired performance from their 38-year-old veteran Jang Jonghyun, who converted two penalty corners.
Veteran captain Lee Nam Yong, 39, was also among the scorers as he struck the equalising goal in the 56th minute while Kim Sunghyun (18th) and Jeong Junwoo (20th) scored the other goals for the South Koreans in the regulation time.
Nicolas Keenan (21st and 47th minutes) as well as Nicolas Della Torre (24th and 41st) struck twice each for Argentina while Maico Casella (8th minute) scored the other goal in the regulation time.
South Korea remained the only Asian country in the quarterfinals and will face Pool C toppers the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Argentina will play against Chile in their 9th to 16th classification match on January 26 in Rourkela.
Earlier in the day, Germany pumped in three goals in the second quarter to beat France 5-1 in their crossover match and make it to the quarterfinals.
Marco Miltkau (15th minute) gave Germany the lead in the first quarter with a field effort before a three-goal burst in the second.
Niklas Wellen (19th), Mats Grambusch (23rd) and Moritz Trompertz (25th) were on target in the second quarter.
Gonzalo Peillat (60th), who had earlier represented Argentina, struck from the penalty in the last minute of the match. Germany earned as many as nine penalty corners from which they scored twice.
Germany, who had finished second behind defending champions Belgium, will face Pool D toppers England in the quarterfinals here on Wednesday.
Francois Goyet (57th) was the lone scorer for France, who had finished third in Pool A, as they made exit from the tournament. They also got nine PCs -- with seven coming in the fourth quarter -- from which they scored only once.
France will play Wales, who had finished at the bottom of Pool D, in their first 9th to 16th classification match on January 26 in Rourkela.
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Saif Ali Khan’s attacker allegedly let in by house help, Police investigate
Mumbai: Mumbai Police suspect that the attacker who stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan six times during an alleged burglary attempt was let into his Bandra residence by one of his house helps. The house help is currently under scrutiny as police investigate the incident. The 54-year-old actor, who sustained injuries, including one near his spine, has undergone surgery at Lilavati Hospital and is reportedly out of danger.
The attack occurred late at night, and preliminary investigations suggest the assailant may have entered the premises hours earlier and waited for an opportunity to strike. CCTV footage from the residence did not capture any recent entry, strengthening the suspicion that the attacker was assisted by someone inside.
Police reported that the incident began as a scuffle during the burglary attempt. “An unidentified person intruded into the residence of Actor Saif Ali Khan. The actor and the intruder had a scuffle. The actor is injured and is being treated. Investigation is ongoing,” officials said.
The attack has raised questions about security in Mumbai’s high-profile areas. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the state government, highlighting similar incidents such as the murder of Baba Siddique and the firing outside Salman Khan’s residence. “If celebrities in Bandra are not safe, who in Mumbai is? This is a serious failure of law and order,” she said.
Actor Pooja Bhatt also expressed concerns, urging authorities to address the issue urgently. “Can this lawlessness please be curbed? Bandra has never felt so unsafe before,” she tweeted, tagging Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials.
Police are now focused on identifying the attacker, who fled the scene, and examining the possible role of the house help in the incident.
