Rio Olympics: India outplayed by US in women's hockey

BDC News

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 12 (IANS) India women’s hockey team once again displayed no spine and lost 3-0 against USA in the group game. India came from behind to draw 2-2 against Japan in the first game of the Olympics. India women’s team were outplayed by the Great Britain unit in all three quarters as they lost 0-3 in the Rio 2016 Olympics contest on Tuesday. After an inspiring match against Japan in their first match, a lot was expected from the Indian team but they were no match to a very disciplined Britain unit.
India slumped to their second loss in three matches and were crushed by the force of the Australian attack to lose 1-6. The Indian defence remained under attack throughout the game and never really offered much in terms of offence. And India did get a goal in the final seconds but that was too little, too late. Mathematically India have a chance but it looks bleak.
India had started the campaign after coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Japan and then drawing 2-2. In the second match they lost 3-0 to Great Britain.
Hockey Updates: As it happened
0525 hrs IST: THAT IS THAT! India lose 3-0 to USA and remain winless in the Games. This is a big loss for India
0456 hrs IST: GOAL! A brilliant run from USA and good finish from Katie Bam to double USA’s lead. India look out of sorts
0455 hrs IST: India doing a better job this time bu still cannot find an equaliser! USA are still looking good for another goal
0444 hrs IST: The second half begins. India trail USA 1-0. Can they find an equalisier
0433 hrs IST: Half-time and India have done well to not concede in this quarter but they still trail 1-0 in the match!
0426 hrs IST: India under pressure after USA get PC after PC! This really getting difficult for India
0419 hrs IST: India score a goal through Rani Rampal but it is denied due to dangerous play. Could have been a great goal
0417 hrs IST: USA on the charge. Great run and could have been a great goal but somehow the Indian defence delivers
0410 hrs IST: End of the first and It’s USA 1-0 India. Goal in the 14th minute and that gives USA the lead
0408 hrs IST: GOAL! USA score the first goal. Good run and good finish by USA. Indian defence is no where
0355 hrs IST: India players walk out on the pitch and so do the USA players. Time for the national anthems of the teams
India thrashed 6-1 by Australia

Indian women’s hockey team dished out a disappointing performance to suffer a 1-6 thrashing at the hands of a rampaging Australia in their third fixture at the Rio Olympics. The Indians, who were playing in the Olympics after a gap of 36 years, were simply outplayed by the higher-ranked Australians who exposed the defensive frailties of their opponents with a comprehensive win in a lop-sided match.
Jodie Kenny struck twice (43rd and 46th minute) while Kathryn Slattery (5th), Georgina Morgan (9th), Jane Claxton (35th), Georgina Parker (36th) scored once each to route the Indians. For India, Thokchom Anuradha scored the lone goal with just 8.3 seconds left on the clock.
The Australians, who were the 2014 World Cup losing finalists, laid seize of the Indian 25-yard with waves of attacking runs and forced seven penalty corners from which they scored four times.
India, on the other hand, got just one penalty corner which they failed to convert. They could barely string a goal-bound attack in the whole match as they suffered their second consecutive match.
The Indian forwards could not make any opening and Rani Rampal was fielded for very less time. The margin of loss would have been bigger for India had goalkeeper Savita Punia not come up with some fine saves in the match.
India lose 0-3 to Great Britain

India women’s team were outplayed by the Great Britain unit in all three quarters as they lost 0-3 in the Rio 2016 Olympics contest on Tuesday. After an inspiring match against Japan in their first match, a lot was expected from the Indian team but they were no match to a very disciplined Britain unit.
The first quarter was a quiet one as both teams traded possession and India did well to keep Britain away from the scoring D. Even when penetrations happened, India defended in numbers to deflect the danger away. This, however, lasted only 15 minutes.
In the second quarter, Great Britain scored. And they scored twice within the space of three minutes. After 24 minutes of action, Britain won their first penalty corner and converted it. They doubled their lead minutes later and went into half-time with a healthy 2-0 lead.
0-2 down was not a new position for India to be in as they were at the same stage, at the same time, against Japan. Britain, however, were different.
Minutes into the third quarter, they made clinical movement from the left and the striker, waiting in front of the goal in the scoring D, had to just put the last touch to deflect the cross in. Lead went up to 3-0 and we knew where the game was heading from there on. The pressure was on India and they failed to deliver.Two penalty corners came their way but none were converted in the fourth quarter.
India fights back to draw 2-2 with Japan

India women’s team, in their first Rio 2016 Olympics contest, staged a brilliant comeback to draw 2-2 with Japan on Sunday. 0-2 down at the end of the second quarter, India hit back with goals from Rani Rampal and Lilima Minz.
It was an inspiring start by India in the first ten minutes of the first quarter but Japan took control of proceedings and moved ahead with two goals towards the end of the first and second quarter. India were found playing catch-up as Japan made some aggressive moves and created plenty of scoring opportunities.
India, however, turned the tables in the third quarter as they scored two goals to level the scoring at 2-2. The spirits in the Indian camp were high as they staged an emphatic comeback from a disappointing performance in the second quarter.