In what could have been a significant turn of events in the women’s hockey competition, India made a hash of it less than two minutes before the hooter to present China the match-winner in Pool ‘A’ of Asian Games here on Wednesday.
The 1-2 reverse masks the improved showing by the Indian team from the opening match against Thailand. Expectation of a draw was very much on the cards from the trend of play — India showed better pattern and rhythm than China in phases suggesting even a win — but a simple solecism cost the team dear. “It was heart-breaking,” admitted the coach Neil Hawgood.
India still has a fair chance to be in the last four if Malaysia, which beat Thailand 2-1 earlier, is conquered convincingly. China has almost reserved a berth in the semifinals with six points and a match remaining against Thailand.
An unsettled deep defence in the early part let China dominate. But India progressively gained the advantage, largely on account of the hard work put in by Ritu and Deepika. The front-line carved out a few sharp moves threatening the Chinese goal but it was China that took the lead in the first quarter when Liang Meiyu slammed home a rebound from a penalty corner.
A stick-check in a skirmish near the goal ended with a stroke for India. Jaspreet Kaur flicked in the equaliser with ease.
As the minutes passed a needless long clearance ended in China getting the possession of the ball. Zhao Yudiao made good use of the space left by the defenders. The shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Savitha, but it rolled back into the goal rendering all the good work of the team go waste.
India-Pakistan clash
The key fixture in Pool ‘B’ between India and Pakistan is eagerly awaited tomorrow. At six points after two matches with Pakistan holding a better goal aggregate, a win for India will make the chances of topping the pool easier.
The results:
Women: Pool B: Kazakhstan 5 (Nataliya Sazontova, Gulnara Imangaliyeva, Aizhan Bulebayeva, Natliya Gataulina, Assel Mukasheva) bt Hong Kong 0; China 2 (Liang Meiyu, Zhao Yudiao) bt India 1 (Jaspreet Kaur).
Pool A: Malaysia 2 (Fazila Banti, Ruhani Siti Noor) bt Thailand 1 (Sakunpithak Takhamporn); Korea 2 (Darae Kim, Hu Sunsoon) bt Japan 0.
Thursday’s matches:
Men: Pool A : Japan vs Singapore (9.30 a.m. IST); Malaysia vs Korea (3.30 p.m.).
Pool B : Oman vs Sri Lanka (11.30 a.m.); India vs Pakistan (1.30 p.m.).