BHUBANESWAR 02-Aug-2018
India bowed out from the quarterfinal stage of the 14th Women’s Hockey World Cup, losing to Ireland 1-3 in penalty shoot out at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London today. Shoot out rule was applied after play in the regulation time ended in goalless draw.
The lone goal for India was scored by Reena Khokhar, while captain Rani Rampal, Monika and Navjot Kaur failed to beat the opposition goalkeeper. None of the four Odisha players was involved in the shoot out.
This was the second defeat for India in the ongoing World Cup against Ireland, who had won the previous encounter between the two countries 1-0 at the league stage. Earlier India made it to the quarterfinal by trouncing Italy 3-0 in their crossover match.
India were made to play the crossover match as they finished third in Pool-B league with two points from three matches. Besides losing to Ireland, India held host England to 1-1 draw in the opening matach and shared points with United States of America with a 1-1 draw in the last game.
However, India got some positives from the tournament as they reached the quarterfinals after a gap of 40 years. As many as four players from Odisha _ Sunita Lakra, Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz _ are representing the 18-member Indian team in this World Cup. Among them, Namita reached the milestone of 150 international caps in the opening match against England.
RESULTS:
July 21: India (Neha Goyal 25-FG) drew with England (Lily Owsley 53-FG) 1-1.
July 26: India lost to Ireland (Dierdre Duke 13’) 0-1.
July 29: India (Rani Rampal 31’) drew with USA (Margaux Paolino 11’) 1-1.
July 31: India (Lalremsiami 9’, Neha Goyal 45’, Vandana Katarial 59’) beat Italy 3-0.
August 2: India (Reena Khokhar-SO) lost to Ireland (Upton-SO, Keeke-SO, Watkins-SO) 1-3 in Shootout (Full time 0-0).
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PHOTO: Odisha quartet (L to R) Lilima Minz, Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Namita Toppo _ before the World Cup in London.
