Hockey: India held by Canada 2-2

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 12 (IANS) India's men's hockey team was held 2-2 by lower-ranked side Canada in its final group phase game that failed to guarantee it a third place in the Pool B of the Olympic Games here on Friday.

Already assured of a place in the quarter-finals, world No.5 India played an attacking game but had to wait for 33 minutes to break the deadlock. Akashdeep Singh made it 1-0 for India after scoring on a penalty corner rebound.

But world No.15 Canada took few second to make it 1-1 with a successful penalty corner conversion from captain Scott Tupper.

Ramandeep Singh deflected a ball in near the right post from a long slap from V.R. Raghunath to make it 2-1 for India in the 41st minute.

Tupper brought Canada on level with a successful penalty corner convertion in the 52nd minute.

Latter, India got plenty of opportunities but failed to scored the winner.