Hockey: Germany win 10th Champions Trophy

Olympic champions Germany added a 10th Champions Trophy to their list of honors after a 2-0 over Pakistan. It's the first time Germany's field hockey team has lifted the prize in seven years.

"We came up with some exceptional performances over the last three games," said German captain Moritz Furste. "We enjoyed the atmosphere here. The crowd was obviously supporting us and we enjoyed that."

Spirited Pakistan had beaten the hosts in Saturday's semi-final but paid the price for being without a handful who made offensive gestures to the home crowd. The 7,000 locals at the Kalinga Stadium were firmly in the corner of the German team.

Germany, who defeated England and Australia in the latter stages, took the lead after 18 minutes through Chris Wesley before Florian Fuchs scored with just three minutes remaining.

Captain Moritz Furste and Tobias Hauke are the only two survivors from the 2007 Champions Trophy triumph, with seven members of the junior squad from last year making up the core of the team.

Furste was named Player of the Tournament and admitted he was delighted with the progress of his young team-mates ahead of the Olympic Games in 2016.

"They came here to learn what top-level hockey is all about, so this is an absolutely brilliant result," he said.

"Ours was a good mix of youth and experience and I think we played really well in the knock-out matches.

"This bodes well for the Olympics which is just two years away."

Several German hockey players, past and present, and other athletes showed their support for the national hockey team who won the gold medal at London 2012.

Meanwhile, the award for the best young player of the tournament went to Akashdeep Singh of India, who lost earlier in the bronze medal match against 13-time champion Australia.

"I'm pleased but not satisfied," Australia coach Graham Reid said.

Goals from Eddie Odencken and Matt Ghodes, who scored with eight minutes remaining, to secure Australia's fifth bronze medal. The Indian team last won a bronze medal at the Champions Trophy was in 1982.

rd/jr (AP, AFP)