In Terrace (Spain): Navneet Kaur did the brace Indian women’s hockey team beat Japan 3-1 To finish a disappointing ninth at the FIH World Cup here on Wednesday. Navneet (30th, 45th minute) scored two field goals while Deep Grace Ekka (38th minute) scored once from the set piece in the classification match. Japan’s only goal came in the 20th minute through Yu Asai’s goal.
The first five minutes of the first quarter saw a tough fight, but both the teams failed to score. Soon India got a big chance to take the lead but Vandana Katariya’s effort was saved from close range by Japan’s goalkeeper Ika Nakamura. For the rest of the first quarter, both the teams fought hard but to no avail.
India got off to a good start in the second quarter and got a few chances within two minutes but the Savita-led side could not score. Japan took the lead in the 20th minute with the help of Yu Asai who converted a penalty corner.
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And we end our FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022 campaign on a high note!Ind 3:1 JPN#hockeyindia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2022 #hockey par #hockey invitation #Pick up India #match day @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @indiasports @media_sai pic.twitter.com/NIeNwMxlVq— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) 13 July 2022
India soon got their first penalty corner but missed the opportunity. He leveled up his game with consistent attacks in the final minutes of the second quarter but Japan defended strongly.
India leveled at half time when Navneet got the board from a field effort. India started on the front foot after a change of ends and earned their sixth penalty corner of the match, but as has been the case throughout the tournament, they once again missed the opportunity.
Lalremsiami was threatening from the left but the Japanese defenders acted.
However, India won another penalty corner and this time Ekka scored a goal to take the lead in the second half in eight minutes.
The Indians attacked after attacking the Japanese goal and on one occasion Vandana came close technically but her attempt was saved by the Japanese goalkeeper Nakamura. After the change of ending the drama mostly engulfed inside the Japanese half as India attacked in successive numbers.
India came close to taking a two-goal lead in the third quarter, but their goal could not be scored as Sharmila Devi was hit on her body.
The third quarter was entirely India’s as they took their game leaps and bounds to upset the Japanese defense, resulting in Navneet’s second goal towards the end.
India continued in the same sequence in the fourth and final quarter in which Vandana was again denied by the Japanese goalkeeper.
Japan fought hard in the last minutes but failed to break through the resolute Indian defence.