Muscat, January 28: Drag flicker Gurjit Kaur and ahead Sharmila Devi scored a purpose apiece off penalty corners as India defeated China 2-0 to win the bronze medal within the Girls’s Asia Cup hockey match right here on Friday.
That is In a rematch of the 2017 remaining that India received in a shootout, Sharmila capitalised on a rebound off a penalty nook by Gurjit that was blocked by the Chinese language defence, diverted the ball into the cage to make it 1-0 for India within the thirteenth minute. Women’s Asia Cup Hockey 2022: India Beat Singapore 9–1 To Clinch Semifinal Berth, To Face South Korea on January 26.
Six minutes later, India had been 2-0 up as Gurjit blasted a robust flick into the Chinese language purpose off one other penalty nook. India survived some robust assaults by China within the second half to safe their third bronze medal within the occasion. India have received the title twice and in addition misplaced the ultimate as many occasions within the occasion.
On Friday, it was a neck-and-neck battle initially to the match with each groups making an attempt to make inroads into one another’s putting circle, showcasing good attacking and defending expertise. Each India and China created potential goalscoring alternatives and even earned themselves penalty corners, however each groups missed out on changing the possibilities.
Nonetheless, within the thirteenth minute, India’s effort paid off as Sharmila discovered herself in the suitable spot to push the ball within the purpose after Gurjit’s highly effective drag-flick was stopped by the defence line, simply earlier than the hooter sounded to sign the tip of the primary quarter.
Charged-up, the Indian eves began the second quarter on an attacking notice, and 4 minutes later they earned a penalty nook, which was duly transformed by Gurjit. China tried to search for a chance to scale back the deficit, and their efforts did get rewarded with a PC, however India captain Savita pulled off a exceptional save to disclaim the Chinese language.
Minutes later, Navneet received a chance so as to add the third purpose within the scoreline, however narrowly missed the goal from the suitable facet of the goalpost. After the ten-minute half-time break, China, who had been trailing 0-2, began the third quarter on the entrance foot and piled strain on India. India’s defence stood tall and denied China’s each try on the purpose.
The latter stage of the third quarter noticed each groups struggle for possession. China displayed a greater assault and made inroads in India’s circle. Nonetheless, the Indian defence soaked the strain and efficiently defended the Chinese language risk to maintain the scoreline 2-0 on the finish of the third quarter.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, China received yet one more Penalty Nook however didn’t convert it. Throughout the counterattack, Salima Tete did get the chance, however her reverse flick was blocked by the Chinese language defence.
China, who got here out all weapons blazing, loved the possession all through the ultimate quarter. They even earned three consecutive PC within the dying minutes, however a stable show by Indian defence helped the Indian eves safe third place within the Girls’s Asia Cup.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 28, 2022 10:11 PM IST. For extra information and updates on politics, world, sports activities, leisure and life-style, go online to our web site latestly.com).
