Tokyo Olympics 2021: Indian women’s hockey team beaten 1-4 by Great Britain

The Indians wasted chances in abundance as Hannah Martin (second and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute), Elegance Balsdon (57th minute) scored for excellent Britain to hands the reigning champions their second consecutive win in Pool A.

Press Trust asia

Tokyo, japan Olympic games 2021: Indian women’s hockey team beaten 1-4 by The Uk

The Truly Amazing Britain women’s team celebrates Hannah Martin’s goal against India. AP

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Hockey – Women’s Pool A – Britain v India – Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – July 28, 2021. Players of India react after conceding a goal. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo – SP1EH7S066VJE

Tokyo, japan: The Indian women’s hockey team wasted chances in abundance to get rid of 1-4 against protecting champions The Uk on Wednesday, their third consecutive preliminary stage defeat which cuts down on the side’s likelihood of qualifying for that Olympic quarter-finals.

The Indians were responsible for wasting possibilities within their first couple of games and also the trend ongoing on Wednesday in the Oi Hockey Stadium as The Uk punished them through strikes from Hannah Martin (second and 19th minute), Lily Owsley (41st minute) and Elegance Balsdon (57th minute). It was Great Britain’s second consecutive win in Pool A.

For India, Sharmila Devi scored the lone goal within the 23rd minute.

The Indians needed a minimum of a place out of this game safe however they now will need to win their remaining two matches to possess any possibility of qualifying for that knockout stage.

India had earlier lost 1-5 to world no.1 holland before slumping to some -2 defeat against Germany. Rani Rampal’s side will next play Ireland on Friday.

Regardless of the score-line, it had been a detailed match between World No 11 India and World No 5 Britain.

The main difference backward and forward teams was that India had the greater share of chances but The Uk utilised more possibilities that came their way.

India guaranteed as much as eight penalty corners within the match but converted only one. The Uk too did not have successful rate from set-pieces because they found the internet only once in the six they earned.

The Uk began strongly and set the Indian defence pressurized in the start.

The title-holders did not allow the Indians settle lower having a second-minute goal by Martin, which caught the Indian defence unawares.

The Uk stored in the pressure coupled with the very first penalty corner within the tenth minute that was saved by India custodian Savita.

The Indians gradually settled lower and permeated the truly amazing Britain circle on several occasion but, as continues to be the situation, the forward-line lacked the final touch.

India earned their first real scoring chance within the twelfth minute with back-to-back penalty corners but drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur wasn’t sufficient.

The Indians were responsible for giving an excessive amount of space to The Uk in their half and also the protecting champions capitalised on their own opponents mistake four minutes in to the second quarter when Martin scored her second goal having a reverse hit after Savita denied Sarah Johnson using the initial try.

India too had their moments within the match and using their third penalty corner, Sharmila pulled one back on her side.

Sharmila nicely deflected in Gurjit’s flick as India performed an excellent routine to lessen the space.

The aim pumped in the Indians because they mounted attacks in figures after that and were able to secure another penalty corner minutes later but wasted the possibility.

Seconds from half-time, Sharmila was denied by The Uk goalie Madeleine Hinch as India entered the breather trailing 1-3.

The Indians arrived on the scene attacking within the third quarter and enjoyed the greater share of possession. They earned three more penalty corners in succession only a minute after resumption but wasted all.

One minute later, The Uk had a penalty corner but Savita found India’s save.

India got another set piece within the third quarter however the result was exactly the same.

The Uk punished India soon when Owsley scored in the team’s third penalty corner.

It had been a contentious goal as India requested for any referral, citing a harmful ball, which appeared is the situation in TV replays, however the TV umpire did not find any justification to alter the choice.

The 3rd goal broke India’s momentum as The Uk enjoyed the lion’s share of possession within the final quarter and along the way guaranteed two more penalty corners, the 2nd which led to a stroke and Balsdon made no mistake in drawing the ultimate nail in India’s coffin.