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The Indian women’s hockey team had a tough day in Ranchi on January 19, Friday, as they lost to Japan in a do-or-die encounter. The home team lost to Japan 0-1 in a third-fourth-place match in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro-Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. By finishing fourth in the tournament, India subsequently failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics that will take place in 2024.
The hosts came on the back of a defeat against Germany in the semifinal of the tournament by 3-4 on January 18, Thursday. The visiting counterparts gained a lead in the game, courtesy of Kana Urata’s penalty corner in the first quarter, and kept the lead intact till the end of the game. The Indians ended the game on the other side of the finishing line despite dominating possession and making 13 circle entries as compared to Japan’s eight.
Savita Punia-led women earned nine penalty corners as compared to four from the rivals but failed to convert them into goals. They earned their first penalty corner in the third minute of the second quarter when Baljeet was fouled near the goalline. However, the Japanese goalkeeper Hazuki Nagai successfully saved Deepika’s flick. The game was a complete domination by the home team but no penalty corner could translate into a goal.
The Indian team beat New Zealand and Italy in the group stage of the tournament and just needed one win to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. In the previous edition of the marquee tournament, India had narrowly missed the podium finish and were expected to rise better for the forthcoming edition. However, their effort fell short and their journey to another edition of the Olympics came to a heartbreaking end.
