Indian women hold Japan

New Delhi: India held Japan to a 2-2 draw in the final game of the four-match women’s hockey Test series at the Gifu Green Stadium, Kakamigahara, on Wednesday.

The 2-2 result, thanks to a double strike from Saundarya Yendala, salvaged some pride for the Indians though they lost the series 0-3. India, which is preparing for the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina, in August-September and the Commonwealth and Asian Games, had lost all its earlier three matches.

India came up with an inspired performance and its defence stood up against the repeated Japanese onslaughts which resulted in 11 penalty corners. India earned just three penalty corners. Saundarya slammed home in the seventh minute giving India the lead before Japan’s Rika Komazawa restored parity two minutes later.

After a 1-1 stalemate at the breather, Saundarya again gave India a 2-1 lead by finding the target in the 39th minute through a penalty corner conversion. After taking the lead, the Indian defence was under severe pressure but stood firm for more than 20 minutes.

The repeated Japanese attacks finally bore fruit with the home side getting the equaliser eight minutes before the final whistle (62nd minute) through a penalty corner conversion by Mie Nakashima.

India has already qualified for the World Cup as the Asia Cup runner-up, while Japan plays a qualifier in Kazan, Russia, next month to make the grade in the mega event.

India will now travel to Shanghai to play Asian champion China, which has also qualified for the World Cup, in a three-match Test series commencing next Tuesday. — PTI