India women’s hockey team outclassed by the Netherlands in Tokyo Olympics opener
Captain Rani Rampal scored for India in the Pool A match as Felice Albers, Margot van Geffen, Frederique Malta and Caia van Maasakker hit the board for the Netherlands.
The Indian women’s hockey team put up a brave fight against world champion the Netherlands but went down 5-1 in their Pool A opening match at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
India captain Rani Rampal was the lone goal-scorer for the Indian hockey team as Felice Albers (2 goals), Margot van Geffen, Frederique Matla and Caia van Maasakker scored for the Netherlands.
Felice Albers scored the first of her brace for the Netherlands in the sixth minute. The Indian women's team, coached by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne, equalised four minutes later when the Dutch goalkeeper Josine Koning misjudged the ball from Indian captain Rani Rampal.
An alert goalkeeper, Savita Punia, and a strong defence from the Indian side held the world champions at 1-1 despite two back-to-back penalty corners in the 22nd minute and another in the 24th minute.
Both teams continued to launch attacks at regular intervals to put pressure but it was the Dutch team that managed to take a 2-1 lead when midfielder Margot van Geffen deflected a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.
The Dutch team regained their strength in the third quarter and launched a flurry of attacks to penetrate the Indian defence to extend their lead to 4-1. Field goals from Albers (43rd minute), her second goal of the match, and forward Frederique Matla (45th minute) extended the lead.
The Indian eves suddenly looked helpless against a superior Dutch team as they continued to extend the lead. Dutch defender Caia van Maasakker converted a penalty corner to settle the match 5-1 in their favour.
Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa are the other teams in Pool A. Indian women will be up against European silver medallists Germany on Monday.