Women's Olympic qualifiers -- India beat Poland 3-0

It was a breezy night out for the ‘Ranis’ of Indian hockey with three of them getting on the score sheet tonight. Ritu Rani did the star turn in the first half and the sizzling Rani Rampal and Poonam Rani worked their magic in the second session to give India a 3-0 win over Poland in a tough pool match of the Olympic qualifiers at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

With this win India (7 points) kept themselves in contention for a place in the final along with South Africa (7), Italy (5) and Ukraine (4) while Canada (1) and Poland (0) are out of the reckoning. There are two games still to go.

India dished out a mixed display creating some flowing moves across the pitch but they were also guilty of several unforced errors, mispasses, trapping gaffes and flunked chances. In the 4^th minute Deepika Thakur’s sizzling drive whistled past the left hand post while Rani Rampal pushed wide from close range after a solo run in the 20^th minute.

India went ahead via a brilliant team counter in the 14^th minute after almost conceding a goal with Ritu Rani guiding the ball into an open cage after Poonam Rani had laid it to her on a platter. Just after the start of the second session, Rani Rampal superbly bulldozed her way into the circle from the left and bundled the ball into the net. Poonam Rani made the issue safe in the 63^rd minute with a crackling shot after neatly collecting a Deepika Thakur cross from the left flank.

Poland, ranked 15 places below India’s 13^th, had just a few chances at the other end but enjoyed as much of midfield possession as the hosts. They also failed to convert any of the five penalty corners they forced as did India who had two. India custodian Yogita Bali helped the hosts keep a clean slate with two good saves.

Earlier, top seeds South Africa played out a 1-1 draw with Italy while Ukraine whipped Canada 5-1.