Indian men's hockey team got a reality check just before the start of Rio Olympics after they were stunned 2-3 by lower-ranked Spain in the second practise game of the tour, here.
World ranked fifth India, thus, lost the two-match series 0-2 as they lost the opening match against world no. 11 Spain 1-4.
For eight-time Olympic champions, the defeats came at the right time as they give final touches to their preparation before flying directly to Rio from here in search of an Olympic medal that eluded the country for 36 years. India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980.
Manpreet Singh (38th minute) and Ramandeep (57th) scored for India, while Josep Romeu (20) provided an early lead to Spain before Pau Quemada (42nd) and Salvador Piera (53) sealed the win for the hosts late last night.
Romeu provided the breakthrough for Spain by converting their second penalty corner five minutes into the second period.
Down by a goal, India came out stronger in the second half and Manpreet drew parity for the visitors with a smart field goal in the 38th minute.
But Spain took the lead again within four minutes with another penalty corner, this time converted by Quemada.
In the final quarter, India started pushing forward in numbers to get the equaliser while Spain played the waiting game.
The home team scored their third goal through Salvador Piera in the 53rd minute before Ramandeep pulled one back for India four minutes later.
(REOPENS FGN 14)
The first Indian penalty corner came two minutes later, but Rupinder's grounder posed no danger to the Korean goal.
Right-half Pradeep Mor sent a diagonal ball into the goalmouth, where Talwinder's faint deflection went wide of the left post in the 14th minute.
Within 15 seconds, Talwinder got a ball from Akashdeep on the other flank and this time he unleashed a diagonal shot from top of the circle into the boards to open India's account.
The Koreans retaliated with their first penalty corner, but captain Jang Man-Jae's shot was wide.
Nikkin Thimmaiah dribbled around in the Korean circle in the 17th minute to get a clear view of the goal, but then left the ball for India's captain for the match SK Uthappa, who show wide after dribbling past one defender.
The Koreans equalised in the 21st minute when Rupinder was unable to intercept a long through pass at the top of the circle. Nippy Korean striker Seo In-Woo succeeded in stealing the ball from Rupinder and then wrong-footed him to have a clear view of the citadel. Seo beat custodian Sreejesh with a firm drive that sounded the boards.
The Koreans then forced two penalty corners before half-time, but failed to convert both.
In between two Korean penalty corners, India got a penalty corner, but the defenders rushed off briskly to block Rupinder's shot within a yard of leaving his stick in the 29th minute.
Rupinder was frustrated again in the 36th minute from India's third penalty corner. This time a rising shot was slapped pack by goalkeeper Hong Doopyo.
The last quarter of the match was played under heavy rains. The Koreans made the most of a momentary confusion in the Indian defence near 25 years and moved the ball briskly to the circle to earn their fourth penalty corner.
Goalkeeper Sreejesh blocked two shot and the third shy on the round struck the body of Devender Walmiki, who was standing on the goalline. The resultant penalty stroke was duly converted by Yang Ji-Hun to give South Korea a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute.
Trailing for the first time in the contest, India charged ahead to earn a penalty corner, where the shot was deflected out by the defenders, but Sardar Singh produced his old sparkle to set up the Indian equaliser.
Sardar moved in along the goalline on the left flank and went past a couple of Koreans before passing the ball to Ramandeep Singh who flicked into the goal to draw level.
India continued to attack in the last five minutes, but the Koreans packed their territory in numbers to thwart any danger to their citadel.
