Chanu adjudged best young player

India were declared the seventh placed team in the women's World Cup hockey qualifying tournament in France on Sunday when their opponents Lithuania were suspended from the competition.

However, the seventh place could not assure the Indians a berth in the World Cup next year and they will have to win a three-match series with the United States before February 28, 2002 to make the finals.

But there was joy for the Indian camp as one of their players was voted 'Young Player of the Tournament'. The coaches and media were unanimous in their vote that India's skillful forward Sanggai Ibemal Chanu was the best of the young girls on view during the 14-day tournament.

Lithuania were suspended by the tournament director after they refused to replay the penalty-strokes with Ireland to decide Saturday's classification match for fifth to eighth places. Lithuania and Ireland were tied 1-1 after regulation time and extra-time and the referee had to resort to penalty-strokes to decide the outcome of the match.

Though Lithuania won the penalty-strokes 6-5, Ireland lodged a protest saying the strokes were not conducted in a proper sequence. Tournament director Ms Claire of Belgium, after consulting the technical committee members, upheld Ireland's protest and ruled that the penalty-strokes would have to be taken again on Sunday morning.

Lithuania did not turn up, claiming they had already won the match. Thus, Ireland were declared winners and allowed to play against Scotland for the fifth-sixth placing.

However, Lithuania reached the venue for the afternoon match against Scotland and pressed their claim for playing. But the tournament director informed them that they were suspended and India were declared seventh placers.

The Indian Women's Hockey Federation has been left with a choice of deciding whether they want to play the three-match series in India or USA.

An hour late, Ireland then played Scotland in the 5th-6th place match and won another extended match 2-1. They were behind to an Alison Grant field goal after only seven minutes and were still behind until the 54th minute when Jill Orbinson converted a penalty-corner. It was left winger Lynsey McVicker who settled the result in the seventh minute of extra time with a golden goal. It was her fifth goal of the event.

Meanwhile, England won the qualifier, beating Russia 4-0 in the final on Sunday.

The English, like in their previous matches, dominated right through to finish with a hundred per cent record, with eight victories in their eight matches. It was the first time that they won every match at a major tournament.

In a floodlit final, all four of their goals came from well-executed corners, three in the second half.

Under-21 international Kate Walsh put them ahead while the other three goals came from the sticjs of Jane Smith, Mel Clewlow and Denise Marston-Smith.

Russia's captain Marina Tchegourdaeva, for all her efforts in the tournament, was adjudged the best player after voting by team coaches and the media.

Ukraine, a country in only their eighth year of international competition, finished third. Two years ago they were a lowly seventh in the European Cup. They drew 1-1 with Japan in regulation time but won on penalty-strokes 4-3.

Japan may have finished fourth but they lost only to England in their semi-final.

In another game at Abbeville, France scored three field goals for a 3-2 victory over Canada in the 9th-10th place match. It was their first win over the Canadians. Karen MacNeill scored both Canadian goals to add to her hat-trick the previous day. She finished second in the scorer's table with seven goals.

Kazakhstan, despite trailing twice to Malaysia, won the 11/12th place match by 5 goals to 2. Yelena Apelganets scored twice for them.