Indian Express: India women’s hockey team makes a point with 2-2 draw against Japan

The scoreline was a surprise — India haven’t been playing well recently but had won their previous two matches against Japan.

If there were any nerves troubling the Indian team, who were making their first Olympic appearance in 36 years, they did well to disguise it initially. Long criticised for their poor fitness, the Indian women began sharply and showed surprising pace as they tried to catch Japan on the counter in the first 15 minutes.

But as their opponents settled down, the Indians began to wobble. Their early promise looked short-lived and Emi Nishikori’s 15th minute goal further flattened India’s spirit. Suddenly, they began to look like the India of old — chasing balls, missing simple passes and unable to run even 10m with it. Mie Nakashima’s second goal in the 28th minute deflated India even more as coach Neil Hawgood looked helpless from the sidelines.

The scoreline was a surprise — India haven’t been playing well recently but had won their previous two matches against Japan. In fact, it was the 1-0 win at the World League last year that ensured the girls qualified for the Games for the first time (1980 was an invitational place).

But the return to the Olympics was turning into a nightmare. Two goals down at half time wasn’t what Hawgood was would have expected. But the world No. 13 side made a valiant fightback as Rani Rampal (31st) and Lilima Minz (40th) scored a goal each in the third and fourth quarters to secure one point for their side.

It was an important point for India but this also was their best chance for a win as even tougher tests await them. India are in Pool B along side Argentina, Australia, Britain and USA, apart from Japan. All the teams are ranked much higher. To qualify for the quarterfinals, Hawgood’s girls will have to get at least one win and one more draw, while hoping other results go their way.

Bright start

The Indian girls got off to a bright start before losing the plot towards the end of the first quarter. They dominated possession but failed to create clear-cut opportunities in the first 30 minutes. Whatever chances India created, the strikers misfired inside the rival circle. India’s first scoring chance came in the seventh minute, but Preeti Dubey, who was lurking in front of the Japan goal, failed to get a touch to Deepika’s cross. A minute later Poonam Rani shot wide from inside the circle.

Just 10 seconds from the end of the first quarter, India conceded a penalty corner and Japan broke the deadlock through a fine dummy goal from Nishikori. Japan doubled their lead two minutes from half time from a swift break through Nakashima who deflected in a cross from left which India captain Sushila Chanu failed to cut off. Down two goals, India came out with more purpose after the change of ends. The Indians earned their first penalty corner with the opening move of the third quarter and Rani Rampal was bang on target with a slap shot to reduce the margin. Japan missed their second short corner, but India utilised the second of two more penalty corners they earned in the third quarter when Lilima Minz scored.