Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian women’s hockey team created history
The Indian women’s hockey team scripted history as they qualified for the quarterfinals in Olympics history after a gap of 41 years. It is a memorable effort by Rani Rampal led side who showed great courage and fight after losing 3 successive matches to top teams like Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain.
It was a tough struggle for the women’s team who lost to
Netherlands by 1-5 in the opening game. Despite playing excellent hockey and Gurjit
Kaur missing penalty stroke they lost to Germany by 0-2.
The third match was the toughest match for the Indian women’s
team conceded goals right from the start. Despite equalling the scores,
Great Britain proved their worth and made it 4-1. Needing to win remaining
matches against Ireland and South Africa, they struggled a lot against Ireland.
Despite getting 14 penalty corners against Ireland, a superb deflection goal by
Navneet Kaur in the 57th minute helped the Indian team register a 1-0 win
to stay alive.
In today’s match, the Indian women’s team looked in decent
shape right from word go. Vandana Kataria was the star of the match as she became first
Indian women to score a hattrick in Olympic history. Despite the Indian
defense not being up to the mark, they held their nerves winning the match by 4-3.
Great Britain proved their billings right as they defeated
Ireland by 2-0 and helped the Indian team to qualify for the knockout rounds at
Olympics. The Indian women’s team made its Olympics debut in 2016 at Rio.
They took just 1 point and were not able to make a mark.
This time they showed great improvement and made it into the
last 8 stage. They will now face Australia in the quarterfinals who finished
top of other Pool on 2nd August.
India women's hockey team reaches quarterfinals of Tokyo Olympics for the first time in 41 years
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