CWG 2022 Women’s Hockey Semi-finals: Indian women’s team loses in shootout

 The Indian women’s hockey team went down fighting against 4-time Champion Australia in the 2^nd semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games competition played at the National Exhibition Centre on Friday.

It was an ideal start for the Indian team as they earned a quick penalty corner in the initial stages of the match. Vandana Katria missed a golden chance of converting deflection on the post. Mariah Williams produced a superb cross as the Indian defense did not mark with Rebecca Gariner deflected into a goal in the 10^th minute to give Australia a 1-0 lead. Australia then earned a penalty corner, but Monika produced a superb save on the goal line. Soon after, the Indian team showed their class with another PC, but Deepa Ekka Grace could not hit a shot. At the end of the first quarter, Australia led 1-0.

The second quarter saw the Indian team making aggressive moves, but the Australian defense looked solid. India earned their 3^rd penalty corner as Vandana Katria could not get the deflection. The Indian team produced some magical moves, but the Australian defense looked solid enough. Tonkin was awarded a green card meaning that Australia was down to 10 men for 2 minutes. The Indian team got another penalty corner, but Powell made another good save denying India the equalizer. At the end of the first half, the Australian team still led 1-0.

The Australian team dominated the 3^rd quarter with lovely attacking play in the initial stages. Indian team enjoyed possession as they could not convert chances as Navneet Kaur flicks shot to Lalremsaimi but could not deflect into a goal. Sonika was awarded a green card for a stick check. The Australian team took advantage of it with four successive penalty corners. The fourth attempt goes wide off the post. Right before the end of the third quarter, Australia earned another PC, but the shot was well saved by Monika. Australia still led 1-0 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw some brilliant attacking hockey by both teams as Savita Punia produced a sensational save to deny Australia 2^nd goal. A superb shot by Sushila Chanu and deflection by Vandana Katria in the 52^nd minute helped the Indian team level the score at 1-1. Nobbs was awarded a green card as the Australian team was down to 10 players. Gurjit Kaur produced superb drag-flick, but Powell denied India the lead.

Indian defense did not allow the Australian team any goals after the initial hiccup. The match was played at a fast pace as Australian attackers put enough pressure with two back-to-back penalty corners. Savita Punia produced magical save to help the match go into a shootout.

The shootout started with Savita Punia saving the first shot by Malone. It was despair for the Indian team as the referee said that clock did not start. Malone, Nobbs, and Lawton converted the shots for Australia while Lalremsaimi, Neha Goyat, and Navneet Kaur failed to convert as Bartram produced some superb saves.

It was a superb effort by the Indian women’s team as they kept enough pressure on the Australian team. Before this match, the Australian team did not concede any penalty corners, but the Indian team got multiple penalty corners.

They will be looking to end the medal drought as they take on New Zealand in the bronze medal match.

 

Indian women's team goes down fighting in the semi-finals against Australia