Athens: India had a second dismal day at the Olympic Games in Athens on Aug 15, 2004 with their medal hopes in men's hockey suffering a setback following their opening Group A game loss against defending champions Holland.

India lost to the marauding Dutchmen 1-3, after trailing 0-1 at half-time. The goal-getters for Holland, aiming for a hat-trick of men's Olympic titles, were Martem Eikelboom, Teun de Nooijer and Taeke Taekema.

The consolation goal for the losers came in the closing stages of the match through Gagan Ajit Singh.

The nation's dreams in other disciplines barring women's archery came to nought with the elimination of welterweight boxer Vijender Kumar, national women's badminton champion Aparna Popat, men's national table tennis champion Achanta Sharath Kamal, woman weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu and trap shooters Mansher Singh and Manavjit Singh.

All of them came a cropper against more powerful and better prepared rivals.

The only bright spot was provided by women archers Reena Kumari and Sumangala Sharma who entered the second round of the individual event by shooting arrows with poise, purpose and perfection. Their team-mate Dola Banerjee, however, bit the dust in the first round.