CWG 2022: Australia thrash India 7-0 to secure gold in men's hockey, India settle for silver

Another team event! Another defeat to Australia. India's inspirational campaign in hockey during the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) ended in heartbreaking fashion as the men's hockey team were beaten by Australia in the final.

In a clash that brought back memories of the humiliating 8-0 loss in the final of the 2010 CWG in Delhi, the Australians started the game by flying off the boxes and took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter itself. The six-time defending champions went into the half-time break with a 5-0 lead advantage.

Although the Australians reduced their intensity in the second half, the Indians struggled to make any mark in the game as the reigning champions finished the third quarter with a 6-0 lead. They added another goal in the last quarter to finish the game with a massive 7-0 victory.

Since hockey's inclusion at the CWG in 1998, Australia have won the gold medal in seven editions in men's hockey. Three of them (2010, 2014, 2022) have come with massive wins over India in the summit clash. India are still searching for their first gold in the event.

The Men's hockey event is the third team event in which an Indian team has lost to Australia. Earlier, the Indian women's hockey lost in the semi-finals to Australia in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. On the other hand, the Indian women's cricket team were beaten by Australia in the final on Sunday (August 7) in a nail-biting thriller by nine runs.

Despite the defeat, the silver medal continues a good period of form for the men's national hockey team. Last year, they had clinched bronze in Tokyo and ended India's 41-year-old wait to win an Olympic medal in hockey. Coming into the final, the men's hockey team were unbeaten in the tournament after they beat Ghana, Canada, and Wales in the group stage and played out a draw vs England. They secured a dominating 3-1 win over South Africa.