India lose 1-4 to Great Britain in Women's Hockey Pool 'A' match

Well then, it is a sad ending for the Indian contingent. The scoreline surely does no justice to their efforts, but that is what sports is about. It can and is most of the time cruel. A valiant effort, but at the end they do come significantly short.

The first quarter, India were still finding their rhythm, in the second, they were matching Great Britain play by play. In the third, I daresay they were the better team for most of the time, but a yellow card at the wrong time for them, gave an opening to the British, who used it fully and got in a goal to destroy India's chances. In the fourth, it seemed like a different Indian side altogether, having lost the momentum and focus.

The defending champions have done well to gain back some momentum after their first game loss to Germany, and have scored 8 goals in two games after that defeat. Surely, they'll want to defend their title, but today they were challenged to the fullest by the Indians, and had their work cut out for them.

The result might not surprise many, but for a while in the second and third quarter, India had a real chance, to at least tie the game. But it was not meant to be, and they did succumb under pressure at the big stage, and make life difficult for them at the moment.

Great Britain move up with a win here and push closer to qualification. India, by the looks of it, will not make it, as they find themselves at the bottom of the group for the moment. Still a couple of games left for them, which they will aim to win, but the hopes of qualification seem bleak.

It's been a very interesting game full of quality, but at the end, it is the inevitable that has happened. Great Britain win by 4-1, and hamper the chances of India's qualification. Nonetheless, India should be proud of the way they played today and the determination they showed against a formidable Britain side.

That's all from this game. We hope you enjoyed it, as much as we did bringing it to you. Do continue to follow SportsKeeda for all the live updates and blogs from the Tokyo Olympics 2020! For now, we bid you a goodbye! Take care and stay safe!

That'll be it. GBR have come out on top today with a 4-1 win over India.

59' A desperate shot attempt from Monika. She hits it straight at the keeper from a tight angle.

That should be the final nail in the coffin now surely. GBR score their penalty and extend the lead to 3 goals. India were looking really good in the third quarter, but in the final one, they just have not been up to the challenge.

57' GBR 4-1 India

Balsdon converts the penalty stroke.

Penalty stroke to GBR as Sharmila blocks one with her body after the keeper was beaten.

India block out the penalty corner but that is another one for GBR on the rebound.

57' Indian defence giving up on the GBR attack. Martin misses a simple one on one to bag a hattrick. However, she's earned a penalty corner.

An attack for India, a real chance to get one back, but a very poor effort from the attacker here. The British defender barely had to do anything to as the Indian herself ended up tipping the ball outside.

55' GBR toying around with India here. The play has been around their box only. India just managing to not concede.

GBR will wonder how the score is still 3-1, after a wonderful opportunity came their way, but they failed to make it count. Savita does well to ensure this still is a competition.

52' Brilliant save by Savita! Indian defence is getting exposed at the moment!

Decent work from India to keep Britain at bay for the moment.

India struggling at the moment, with a yellow card early in the fourth quarter. They need three goals for the win, and GBR just need to hold on for a win Things looking quite difficult for our Women in blue.

48' GBR defence was caught in the run of play as Vandana had an attempt at the goal. Hinch kept it out.

47' Yellow card for Navjot. This is getting from bad to worse for India.

Fourth-quarter kicks off.

India started off strong, and were looking very positive for a comeback, but alas it was not meant to be. When they had the momentum, they failed to capitalise and get in the equaliser. They got enough chances too, but they yet again, found themselves unable to go past that defensive line with ease. They were kept away from the goal, especially in those five minutes when GBR had a yellow card.

But GBR have been smart, and have waited patiently for the opportunity to get aggressive. They saw one when India got a yellow, and took barely a minute to put a third goal past the keeper and take a lead of two.

That's the final whistle for the third quarter. GBR lead 3-1.

Ellie Rayar's shot is saved as India survive the penalty corner.

42' Penalty corner for Englad!

41' GBR 3-1 India

India lose their referral as Ansley extend the GBR lead to two goals.

Britain take the advantage and extend their lead. Under a minute after India's yellow card, GBR strike and make it count. 3-1 to GBR now. India in a tough spot and on the back foot almost immediately.

41' Penalty corner for GBR

They score from the penalty corner, India have referred for a potential foul in the build-up to the goal.

40' Vandana comes on but Tete gets a yellow and is out for the next 5 minutes.

A fantastic interference just in front of the goal for India as they manage to keep Britain out. But a yellow card here could open the floodgates of the British.

39' Green card for Vandana! Huge blow for India, they need to hold on to GBR for the next 2 minutes and not concede any.

GBR have managed just one promising attack in this half, and are looking to be on the back foot at the moment. India should surely take this advantage and make it count.

India failing to inflict to damage with the penalty corner, but they are knocking on the door. They're started on a really positive note this half, and it will be cruel if they do not manage to equalise here.

38' Gurjit's shot is wide and off target. GBR hold on to their lead but they are walking on thin ice.

37' Penalty corner for India. 7th of the match for them!

37' Penalty corner check for India.

A dominant start for India in this quarter so far. They are playing more from the centre of the pitch and making some excellent runs.

33' Yellow card for GBR! Can India make the most of the numerical advantage for the next five minutes?

Yet again a strong defence from the British, as they keep out a hat trick of penalty corners from India. It's India who have come out all attacking in the this quarter. But it's been just three minutes so far.

33' Penalty corner for GBR!

India manage to keep it out.

32' Another penalty corner in return for India.

Excellent defence from GBR to keep India at bay.

31' Penalty corner for India. GBR review not overturned.

Third-quarter kicks off.

India almost get in a second goal, right at the stroke of half time, but Hitch yet again, kicks it out. A much better performance from the Indians in the second quarter compared to the first, but they still find themselves trailing by one goal.

Great Britain started off both the quarters with an early goal to dictate terms. In the first India were caught at their weakest, but in the second, India have shown their potential and have done a good job to pull one back, through a penalty corner.

It's been more even in the second quarter, but Great Britain still have the edge over India. Their attacks are more fluid, and look threatening every time they break away towards goal. Whereas for the Indian contingent, their attacks are seen less as a threat because the British defenders have done well to match the pace of the attack.

India too in the latter stages have done much better defensively and are not being caught out in a poor position. But Britain are still dominating when it comes to counter attacks, and that is something India need to deal with better.

Let's dive into the third quarter and find out if India can get the advantage or will GBR continue having the upper hand.

That's the end of the second quarter. GBR lead 2-1.

29' Crackles is down after colliding with McCallin in the run of play.

A collision between two Britain players inside the box of India. Crackles one of them, seems to have taken a hit as she is being seen off the pitch.

2 minutes left in the quarter.

Tough chance for India on that penalty corner, and Britain come back with an attack of their own, straight away.

27' GBR 2-1 India

India miss out on the opportunity to equalise.

The replays suggest that the hockey stick had the first contact on Rani's body as Pearne-Webb's referral isn't upheld.

26' India get yet another penalty corner, GBR have sent it up for a referral.

India get their first goal, but hopefully not their last. The penalty corner does it for them, and they trail by just a goal now. A smart move from Sharmila who slid the ball in from the spot and went onto the side of the goal to tap it in after Gurjit banged in the ball hard just wide of the goal.

India lose 1-4 to Great Britain in Women's Hockey Pool 'A' match

The match will begin at 6.30 AM IST.