Antwerp: The Indian women’s hockey team ended their Europe Tour on a high after getting the better of the Belgium junior men’s team 4-3 in a thrilling encounter here Tuesday.
For India, Gurjit Kaur (seventh and 11th minutes) and captain Rani (13th and 33rd) scored twice each to give the visitors their first win of the tour. The hosts rebounded back through Thibault Neven (38th), William Van Dessel (42nd) and Mathias Relik (48th) who got their names on the scoresheet and made it a very nervous last 10 minutes for the Indian eves.
The eves started on an aggressive note and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute which drag-flicker Gurjit converted. Four minutes later she was again on hand to hit the target from the second PC. Then Rani also scored off a combined move as India ended the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.
The second quarter began with goalkeeper Rajani Etimarpu making her second diving save of the match to deny the Belgians from opening their account. There were no goals scored in the second quarter.
The third quarter once more saw Indian dominance in the initial stages and Rani scored her second to make it 4-0 for India. At that stage of the game it looked like the eves making mincemeat of the Belgium colts.
But that was not to be. First Neven reduced the margin from Belgium’s third penalty corner and then Van Dessel scored after a fine solo run down the middle.
When Relik converted another PC to make it 3-4, it was clear that the eves were on their last legs. But they held on firmly in the last 10 minutes and prevented the hosts from restoring parity.
2 from Orissa in Indian team
New Delhi: Hockey India announced Tuesday an 18-member India A women’s team who will participate in the Australian Hockey League (AHL) 2017, which starts September 28. The team will be captained by forward Preeti Dubey while midfielder Udita will shoulder the responsibility of vice-captain. Two players from Orissa – Ashmita Barla and Mariana Kujur have found a place in the side. It will be the first time that an Indian women’s team will be taking part in the AHL which will comprise of 10 teams. The squad: (Goalkeepers): Divya Thepe, Bichu Devi Kharibam; (Defenders): Neelu Dadiya, Ashmita Barla, Priyanka, Suman Devi Thoudam, Salima Tete; (Midfielders): Udita, Ishika Choudhary, Mahima Choudhary, Gagandeep Kaur, Nilanjali Rai, Mariana Kujur; (Forwards): Preeti Dubey, Sangita Kumari, Jyoti, Navpreet Kaur and Mumtaz Khan.
Press Trust of India
