FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024: India women keep Paris 2024 dreams alive with 3-1 win against New Zealand 

The Indian women’s hockey team beat New Zealand 3-1 in its second Pool B match of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Sunday.

Sangita Kumari (1’), Udita (12’) and Beauty Dung Dung (14’) scored the goals for India while Megan Hull (9’) was New Zealand’s goal scorer.

The win helps the Indian women’s hockey team keep their Paris 2024 Olympics dreams alive.

The top three hockey teams from the eight-nation tournament will earn a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which will be held in France in July-August this year. The top two teams from each pool (A and B) will qualify for the semi-finals.

Sunday’s result means India, who lost their opener to the USA, are now third in the Pool A standings with three points from two matches. New Zealand also have as many but are placed third based on goals scored. Both the Kiwis and India have an identical goal difference of +1.

India will play bottom-placed Italy in their final FIH Women’s Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 Pool B match on Tuesday while New Zealand will face the USA, who top the table with six points.

Knowing a defeat on the night would mean curtains for their dreams of making the Paris 2024 Olympics, world No. 7 India came out all guns blazing and took the lead in the first minute.

Salima Tete drove in from the right and centred the ball into the danger zone. Sangita Kumari reacted the fastest and beat Kiwi goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon to send the home fans present at the venue into a frenzy.

The lead, however, lasted just eight minutes. World No. 9 New Zealand equalised through a penalty corner as Megan Hull’s drag-flick squeezed through past the Indian defenders and goalkeeper Savita Punia.

Unperturbed, the Indian women’s hockey team struck right back with a penalty corner of its own. It was Udita this time, who disturbed the backboard with a powerful drive.

The home team doubled their lead almost immediately. Beauty Dung Dung created the goal with some nifty stickwork and converted towards the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams enjoy phases of dominance and despite multiple chances, there were no goals as the first half ended with India 3-1 up.

The Black Sticks had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back in the third quarter with Katie Doar finding herself 1v1 against Savita Punia but the Indian captain stood tall. India, too, had some half chances to extend their lead but couldn’t make them count.

India managed the game exceptionally well in the final quarter and carved out a crucial win.

Navneet Kaur played the 150th international match of her career on the night.