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India

Indian captain Dilip Tirkey promised to fight back into contention in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament after a 0-4 morale-shattering loss against Spain in their opening tie here today.

Spain pumped in all the goals in the second half to win the match quite comprehensively at the National Stadium, but Tirkey said it was too early to write his team off.

"This is a young team which has shown its skill in the Test series against Pakistan and Spain. Yes, we have lost the first match, but it would be too early to dismiss us. We have still several matches to go and I am sure my boys will fight back," Tirkey told reporters after the match.

Tirkey said his side lost its lung opener because it goofed up the chances that came its way and also committed defensive blunders.

"Missing chances has been an old problem with us. We paid the price for the lapses," he said.

India's chief coach Gerhard Rach agreed with the captain when he said that India should have scored in the first half itself which could have put some pressure on the Spaniards.

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