Hockey giants gear up for 'hot' semi-final battles

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NEW DELHI, Oct 11 (AFP): Three-time winners Australia will be tested not only by a steely New Zealand, but also by extreme heat when they play the first semi-final of the Commonwealth Games hockey here on Tuesday.
The match is scheduled at 1100 hours (0530 GMT) when the sun reaches its peak, which means the endurance power of the players will be on the line more than their skill with the stick.
The other semi-final between hosts India and England will be played in more tolerable conditions in the evening.
They won all their four league matches, conceding just two goals-both to India-and scoring 22 in all.
New Zealand, who have yet to win a medal in the Games since the sport was introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, have nothing to lose going into the tie.
India go into their semi-final tie drained by their exhilirating 7-4 win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.
England, who beat South Africa 2-1 to qualify for the semis, will be looking forward to the India match with trepidation after the way a crowd of 19,000 rooted for their home team on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Captain Madonna Blyth scored the winner as defending champions Australia downed a fighting England 1-0 here on Monday to make it to the final of the Commonwealth Games women's hockey.
The Aussies, ranked number six to England's five, will meet the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa to be played later in the day.