In our last release we focused on Men’s maiden Commonwealth Games disaster. The story was same for women as well. Lanky inside-right Manjinder Kaur led the Indian girls at Kuala Lumpur, but the result was not different.
In the run up, its World Cup coach Colonel Balbir Singh was dropped, Gurdiyal Singh Bhangu was inducted in his place. India started the campaign well, winning first three matches, as it was pitted against weak teams. However, defeating Malaysia 6-1 was a heartwarming one.
On 16th September Australia put India in its place (0-4) Katrina Powell scoring a brace of goals.
Next day India drew Scotland 2-2 with lot difficulty. After Sita Gossain converted a penalty corner, Rival’s Penalty Corner expert Rhona Thompson struck twice. The Scots were almost running away with winners, but Nidhi Khuller, the ebullient right winger, scored a peach of a goal in the 66th minute to square off the lead.
The three wins and a draw was adequate for India to enter the semis, where its traditional foe England was waiting for its meal.
It was a bad for the Indian angles. Its really the age-less Janesmith who upset the Indian rhythm early in the first half, puncturing their defence successfully in the fourth minute. India could not reply. Tina Cullen sealed the victory eight minutes into the second half.
Incidentally, a few hours after this, Indian men also lost their semis.
It was New Zealand which easily outwitted jaded girls in the second half, scoring all their three goals in this spell.
Thus Indian women had to return empty handed.
However this experience came in handy for the girls who went on to win a silver at the Asian Games in three months.
The most girls later conceded with a bit more experience they could have made it to the podium at Kuala Lumpur.
Thus both men and women teams disappointed themselves and also their fans in the first Commonwealth Games.
It was not so four years later.