India shares honours with Australia

Y. B. SARANGI

An improved performance from the defenders helped India hold Australia to a goalless draw in its second match of the four-nation Lal Bahadur Shastri under-21 women’s hockey tournament at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Wednesday.

The home team, which lost 1-2 in its warm-up game against the Aussies, succeeded in its plan of thwarting the rival attack in the initial minutes in both sessions.

India shared the honours with Australia despite several lapses in trapping and passing.

With one win and one draw, the host led the table with four points.

New Zealand and Germany were on three each after the former’s 6-2 win over the Germans. Australia opened its account after Wednesday’s draw.

The Indian players were clearly low on energy following the hard work against New Zealand the previous day. There was a distinct lack of coordination upfront and the shots at goal were devoid of power.

FIRST CHANCE

India got its first chance when Anupa Barla made a solo run on the left and attempted a reverse-flick. She was late by a fraction of a second, thereby allowing an Aussie defender to block the effort.

For most part of the first half, the home team, led by Jaspreet Kaur and Balwinder Kaur Mehra, defended its post by taking on the advancing Australian forwards.

Jaspreet was later chosen the ‘player of the match.’

Australia was better in ball possession and distribution as it produced six penalty corners apart from a number of raids on the Indian citadel.

It came close to scoring off the third penalty corner, but Amelia Spence failed to deflect the ball home from close range.

India earned five penalty corners. However, the option to go for direct shots, which were too flat and predictable, did not prove effective.

The side wasted at least one golden opportunity in the 54th minute.

Navneet Kaur, after getting the ball from Poonam Rani, could not put it past Australian goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram.

India’s chief coach B.K. Subramani expressed happiness at the performance of the defenders.

GERMANS OUTCLASSED

In the other engagement of the day, New Zealand, which rallied from 0-1, banked on Sian Fremaux’s triple strike (10, 14 & 47) and a goal apiece from Pippa Hayward (eight), Rhiannon Dennison (15) and Tara Hall (64) to outclass Germany. Marilena Kraub (fourth & 35th) was the lone scorer for the losing team.

Thursday is a rest day.