NEW DELHI: Haroon Khan will have to settle for the bronze medal he secured when he knocked the last British boxer out of contention in his division at the Commonwealth Games. He was well and truly beaten by India's Suranjoy Singh in the semifinals of the 52-kilogram division Monday. The younger brother of WBA world champion Amir Khan was competing for Pakistan here after being snubbed by the England selectors. He beat a Welshman to reach the semifinals and ensure a Commonwealth Games medal, then said his aim for the Games had been to prove the selectors wrong and to finish ahead of any of the British boxers. His chances of winning gold diminished rapidly after conceding a 6-0 lead in the first round en route to a 9-3 loss to Asian champion Suranjoy, who later said he “did not consider this bout to be a major challenge.” Suranjoy's win in the evening session had followed three losses by his Indian compatriots in the afternoon. The Indian boxer said he had figured in tougher bouts earlier in the tournament. The 19-year-old Haroon Khan was gracious in defeat, but reserved a shot for the England selectors. “I knew it would be tough before it started, especially in his backyard,” Haroon said. “He is a great fighter, is strong and keeps coming forward. My aim was to get a medal here. The selectors need to know that I should have got that medal for England.” Suranjoy's win was followed by Manoj Kumar's entry into the 64 kilogram final, but Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh was edged out on penalty points by England's Anthony Ogogo in the 75-kilogram class. Light flyweight Amandeep Singh, lightweight Jai Bhagwan and welterweight Dilbag Singh all crashed out. Australia-NZ hockey final Defending champion Australia edged England 1-0 on Madonna Blyth's 38th-minute deflection off a penalty corner Monday to clinch a place in the Commonwealth Games women's hockey final, where they'll meet trans-Tasman rival New Zealand. New Zealand beat South Africa 1-0 to make the gold medal match for the first time in four attempts at the Commonwealth Games. Kiwi defender Clarissa Eshuis scored the match winner for the 1998 bronze medalist off an indirect 53rd-minute penalty corner drill after the ball had rebounded off goalkeeper Vuyisanani Mangisa pads. South Africa pressed hard for the equalizer in the last 15 minutes and even got a penalty corner in the 70th, but veteran Pietie Coetzee convert the opportunity. South African defender Kim Hubach rued missed chances that included five short corners. “We even had a chance in the last minute, but we missed it,” Hubach said. “It's obviously disappointing but we have to put this behind and come again on Wednesday for the bronze medal against England.” England had better ball possession throughout the match against Australia, but the 2006 gold medalists were able to successfully defend their early second-half lead. Australia coach Frank Murray, who will quit after the Commonwealth Games, said England pressured his defenders. “We asked them to be disciplined coming out of defense, but we still struggled because England pressed us through there,” Murray said. Striker Kate Hollywood said Australia would be ready for Wednesday's final. “We are on the up and ready to play anyone in the final,” Hollywood said. Some England players sat on the pitch at the MDC Stadium and covered their faces with their hands to hide their tears. In the playoffs, Trinidad and Tobago edged Malaysia 2-1 to finish ninth with Stacey-Ann Siu scoring the winner just a minute from fulltime. India finished fifth with a 3-0 win over Canada. Chanchan Devi and Saba Anjum added field goals to Ritu Rani's first-half effort for India.
