Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July12: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team defeated Canada in the shootout to earn their first victory in the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain and Netherlands 2022 thanks to the heroics of captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia.
The Indian team overcame Canada 3-2 in the penalty shootout after the two teams tied 1-1 in regulation time to advance to the tournament’s ninth through twelfth places.
Salima Tete scored the equaliser for India in the final minute of regulation after Madeline Secco had scored for Canada in the first minute. Navneet Kaur, Sonika, and Neha all scored to give India its first victory of the competition. Savita, who put on a spectacular performance, made a total of six saves in the shootout.
India got the game underway offensively after their humiliating loss to Spain. Canada managed to score after withstanding the Indians’ initial onslaught, but it was overturned because the referee granted a penalty corner and Natalie Sourisseau’s shot went off-target.
A few minutes later, Canada improved upon their previous penalty corner win. This variation confused the Indian defence, and Kathleen Leahy handed it to Secco for the finishing blow that stunned the Indians.
In the second quarter, India once more came out stronger and repeatedly broke through the Canadian defence. Lalremsiami narrowly missed the goal with his diving attempt in the closing minute of the third quarter after Salima Tete’s feed from the right side.
With the exception of the early goal, Canada did not contribute much to the game as the Indians absolutely dominated it, launching assault after attack.
India’s constant raiding in the fourth and final quarter in pursuit of the equaliser had the Canadian defence work hard. Gurjit Kaur missed a number of set pieces as the Indians produced multiple opportunities in the form of penalty corners.
India will play Japan in the ninth-12th place play-off match on Wednesday.
