Asian Games 2018: India Enters Women's Hockey Final After 1-0 Win Over China
Looking for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Indian women's hockey team moved a step closer by qualifying for the gold medal match of the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday. With a solitary goal win over a fighting China, India will play its first Asian Games final since 1998. Only time India won the title was in 1982 when women hockey was introduced to the games.
India will now play Japan in Friday's final. Earlier, Japan defeated Korea 2-0 in the first semifinal.
It was Gurjit Kaur (Punjab) who saw the Indian team through with a penalty corner goal in the 52nd minute. Gurjit had scored a brace in the last pool game against Koreans also.
Bronze medallists in the last Asian Games, India entered the field as pre-match favourites. But China had some surprises for the Indians as it not only defended citadel very well but also gave some anxious moments to Indian defence in a game that was fast paced.
It was only in the last quarter that Indian girls were in their full flow as they went for a full court press, forced a series of penalty corners and secured the match winner from the tird with Gurjit Kaur flicking the ball into the net for the great relief of hockey fans, both here at the venue and back home.
Indian tactics of wearing out its opponents were to an extent successful but its failure to score goals, both from penalty corners and also in run of play, may have worried the team officials as first three quarters of the game went goalless.
No doubt India was a superior side but some erratic passes and lethargic midfield play allowed Chinese girls to make a match of the second semi-final.
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India had its share of chances, including a good flick by Gurjit from the second penalty corner. It caught a defender on the goal line for which umpire blew for a stroke but later on consultation with video umpire, it was changed to a free hit as the ball had gone off the stick of a defender.
In the last quarter, India had a couple of good scoring chances but off the mark shooting kept them goalless till the 52nd minute when Gurjit scored from the seventh and last penalty corner.
-PTC NEWS
