India Stun Australia To Reach Semi-Finals

Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur rose to the occasion when it mattered & converted India’s lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute to surprise the Australians

- S Kannan

Highlights

• The Indian girls were loud and loquacious on the field. Watched by coach Sjoerd Marijne from the sidelines, there was constant chatter. The body language was sublime and the way they showed a willingness to play in the heat and humidity was praiseworthy

• On the Yo-Yo scale used to evaluate fitness, the Indians rank high

TOKYO/NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s hockey team on Monday tore the form book to shreds as they stunned strong and experienced Australia 1-0 to enter the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Indian team scripted history by qualifying for the Olympic semi-finals for the first time ever.

The team went into a huddle after the long hooter, realising their dream had come true. Five years ago, when the Indian women’s team finished last in the Rio Olympics, there was sarcasm and barbs.

But not this time. After looking so shaky early on in the league phase in Tokyo, the girls showed luck and pluck in ample measure can work magic. Gurjit Kaur had set the ball rolling early in the match, using the drag flick to score off a penalty corner. That changed the whole tone and tenor of the match. Such was the joy at Gurjit scoring the goal, her family in Amritsar was distributing sweets at home to visitors.

The Indian girls were loud and loquacious on the field. Watched by coach Sjoerd Marijne from the sidelines, there was constant chatter. The body language was sublime and the way they showed a willingness to play in the heat and humidity was praiseworthy.