Indian women’s hockey coach disappointed with two wrong decisions
NEW DELHI: Disappointed with the 1-1 draw against a lowly Ukraine, India women’s hockey coach CR Kumar rued the two decisions that went against his team but said they have not decided whether to lodge a complaint with the FIH.
India were denied a goal in the 55th minute and a penalty corner in the dying moments and Kumar felt these two decisions robbed India of crucial two points.
“We missed a lot of scoring chances, it is our fault. We didn’t capitalise on the chances and missed two points and that should not have happened. I am disappointed. It was a lesson for us,” Kumar told reporters after the match on Saturday.
Asked about the last minute penalty corner, Kumar said, “It was a wrong decision, the first PC was not completed, the ball was still in play but the hooter went off. As per rules we should have been given the second PC.
“Later after the match when I went and spoke to the technical officials and on-field umpires, they agreed it was a mistake but by the time, the match was already over,” he said.
In the 70th minute, India had earned a penalty corner but failed to convert it but they were immediately awarded another PC by the umpire but with the hooter going off almost immediately and the protest from former India men’s team coach and current Ukraine advisor Jose Brasa, India were denied the PC.
This was not the only decision that went against India, in fact, in the 55th minute the hosts were also denied a goal.
With the scores locked 1-1, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, who was waiting next to the goal post, nudged the ball home after Poonam Rani’s shot was deflected by the goalkeeper towards the left corner of the nettings but the goal was disallowed.
“That was also a mistake on the part of the umpire according to me because the ball had already crossed the line and hit the inside post,” Kumar said.
“But all said and done, we didn’t capitalise on our chances, which cost us dearly. We have to rectify our mistakes and put up a better performance in the next match. We cannot take every game lightly because ranking hardly matters in international hockey,” he added.
Asked if they will protest against the two decisions that went against India, Kumar said, “Let’s see we will have to discuss the matter.”
Kumar also said that the Indian team was also done in by the unavailability of video referrals in the tournament.
India skipper Asunta Lakra too was disappointed at the result and blamed the lack of combination for the draw.
“There was lack of combination among us and also there was lack of control from the forward line, otherwise we could have won the match with a bigger margin,” she said.