India's Ramandeep Singh (right) dribbles past an Irish player during a Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tie in Ipoh, Malaysia yesterday

Toothless defending dragged India into an abyss and a humiliating defeat to a team 10th in the FIH rankings as Ireland playing their best hockey in the tournament carved out a 3-2 victory in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament yesterday. Having grabbed the lead on two occasions, the Indian men's team fumbled in the end. Ramandeep Singh (10th minute) and Amit Rohidas (26th min) scored for India while Shane O'Donoghue (24th), Sean Murray (36th) and Lee Cole (42nd) struck for Ireland.