India-Ukraine women draw 1-1 amidst umpiring hassles

Umpires and India mess up the last women’s encounter of Day 1 in Delhi Olympic Qualifier, which created heat off the field devoid of one on the turf.

Attacking India fails to score enough and end up sharing points with the defensive Ukraine 1-1.

Ukraine stunned India with a penalty corner conversion in the 28th minute to start their Delhi campaign right earnestly (1-0). India came in waves in the second half. On one close and lethal attack in the 42nd minute, Saundarya Yandala, who was otherwise too active upfront earlier too, sent a forehand shot into the goal from close range to keep Indian chances alive (1-1.

Indian girls attacked the Ukraine defence relentlessly, and had better of exchanges. In the 55th minutes, Indian scoreboard went up with a goal from Anuradha Devi only to be disallowed later. The ball was about a foot high on her height, she jumped and tapped it with a raised stick. It was not a goal, but the girls themselves were surprised on the decision, though celebrated at once. There was no referal system, but the replay on the giant screen seemed to have worked with the mind of another umpire and on discussion the goal was reversed.

This was certainly a right decision.

In the closing stages when the clock showed 28 seconds for the hooter, India got a deserving penalty corner. Indian did not use it, with wayward shots, but were good enough to earn another penalty corner simultaneously with the hooter.

Even as the girls were in the process of taking another shot, the umpire signaled end of match, much to the surprise of the Indian staff

Indian coach CR Kumar said the decision is technically wrong.