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The Indian women's team began their FIH Olympic Hockey Qualifiers with a disappointing 0-1 loss against the USA in the first of their preliminary matches in Ranchi on January 13.
Despite a brief reprieve after the USA were denied an opening goal in the first quarter, the Indians were on the back foot as Abigail Tamer gave her team the lead a minute into the second quarter.
The hosts, in Pool B, will need to finish amongst the top three teams at the Olympic hockey qualifiers if they are to earn the right to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games.
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The match got off to a blistering start but neither team could manufacture a PC or work a shot on target until Amanda Golini managed to beat Savita Punia in the 10th minute.
The goal was overturned after Elizabeth Yeager was ruled to have obstructed an Indian defender. Savita was called into action yet again as the USA upped the ante before the Indians were thwarted by American goalkeeper Kelsey Bing.
A goalmouth melee early in the second quarter resulted in Abigail Tamer helping her team to a 1-0 lead.
The Indians earned a short corner in the 22nd minute thanks to Beauty Dungdung, which was followed by a couple of follow-up PCs, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Meredith Sholder denied Deepika and Navneet Kaur with some resolute PC defending. Then, a deflection off a tomahawk from Sangita Kumari in the 27th minute whistled tantalizingly across the face of the goal.
Lalremsiami was unable to latch on and the Indians headed into the long breather trailing by a lone goal much to the dismay of the packed house at Ranchi.
Navneet Kaur's stupendous solo run earned the Indians a PC in the 44th minute, which was followed by a couple more. But Janneke Schopman's team failed to make the most of the opportunity.
Vaishnavi Phalke's five-minute suspension did not deter the Indians who thought they had scored off a PC early in the final quarter but the ball had caught Jyoti's foot en route to the goal.
India takes on New Zealand in a crucial Pool B game of the FIH Olympic hockey qualifiers on Sunday.
Indian girls up against New Zealand in second game of FIH Olympic Hockey Qualifiers
The Indian women's hockey team faces a formidable task in the second of their pool matches when they take on New Zealand in the FIH Olympic hockey qualifiers on Sunday.
Despite being ranked three slots lower than the Indians, New Zealand, who are currently placed ninth as per the FIH, have had the upper hand over the Indian team.
At the 2022 Women's World Cup, the Black Sticks Women, who were pooled alongside India, defeated Janneke Schopman's team 4-3 to progress to the quarterfinal stage.
The Indian girls did however beat New Zealand in the shootout to win the bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after both ended regulation time with the score at 1-1.
New Zealand defeated Italy 3-0 in their opening encounter of the FIH Olympic hockey qualifiers with all three goals being scored from penalty corners with Frances Davies coming up with a brace.
Davies won the Player of the Match award and will be one of the New Zealand chargers to watch out for in their next game against India.
