Sydney: Avenging for their last week's final loss against Australia at Perth, India thrashed the hosts 5-3 in Sydney on June 8 to win the second leg of the three-nation invitational hockey tournament.

In the final played before a packed house at the Sydney International Hockey stadium, India scored through Jugraj Singh (30th minute), Gagan Ajit Singh (31), Prabhjot Singh (38 and 64) and Baljit Singh Dhillon (66) to finish their 12- day tour of Australia on a high note.

Though Troy Alder's scored a hat-trick (45, 55, 70) for Australia, it was not enough to prevent India from registering their first win against the hosts on the tour.

"This is a great finish to our tour. I am absolutely thrilled with the way the boys played today," said an elated Indian coach Rajinder Singh who had said the twin tournaments would start India's build-up to the Champions Trophy in August and next year's Athens Olympic Games.

"This is a big impetus for us for future tournaments particularly, the Champions Trophy and next year's Athens Olympics. We would like to continue in the same vein," he said.

PTI