FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: India women’s Paris 2024 hopes over after loss to Japan

Paris 2024

The Indian women’s hockey team lost 0-1 to Japan in the bronze medal match. Only the top three teams from the tournament qualify for the upcoming Summer Games.

2 minBy Utathya Nag
India vs Japan hockey

(Hockey India)

The Indian women’s hockey team’s hopes of obtaining a berth to the Paris 2024 Olympics ended after a 0-1 loss to Japan in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers bronze medal match at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi on Friday.

Only the top three hockey teams from the eight-nation tournament secure a spot at the upcoming Summer Games, which will be held in France later this year. USA and Germany sealed their spots courtesy of making the final.

Kana Urata (6’) scored the winning goal for Japan in the tight match against the Indian women's hockey team.

It was Japan, who asked the more difficult questions in the initial exchanges. Savita Punia made a crucial save with a minute on the clock before Salima Tete’s brave blocking denied the visitors from the first penalty corner of the match.

The Indian defence, however, cracked after Japan won the second penalty corner in the fifth minute. This time, Kana Urata hammered one right through Savita to give her team the lead.

Jolted by the goal, India tried to up the ante in attack and created two decent opportunities but neither Deepika nor Lalremsiami managed to hit the target. Japan, meanwhile, also had two great opportunities to extend their advantage but Savita and the defence managed last-ditch blocks to keep them out.

India came out with intent in the second quarter but a disciplined Japanese defence, led by Shihori Oikawa, made things difficult for the Indian forwards. The hosts did win two penalty corners in the period but saw both blocked as the first-half ended with Japan holding a 1-0 lead.

India pressed Japan harder after the restart and came close to equalising from a penalty corner midway through the third quarter. Deepika’s thunderous strike looked destined for the goal but Japan goalkeeper Eika Nakamura managed to tip it onto the crossbar.

Almost immediately at the other end Ishika Chaudhary made a brilliant clearance off the line to keep Japan from scoring from another penalty corner. The hosts won a flurry of penalty corners in the final minutes of the quarter but Japan defended brilliantly to keep hold of their slender lead.

With their Paris 2024 hopes on the line, the Indian women's hockey team attacked Japan in waves in the final quarter. Japan, however, defended in numbers to keep hold of their lead and the Olympics berth.

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