India’s women’s hockey team faced their third consecutive loss in the FIH Women’s Pro League, falling 1-4 to Argentina. Despite an early goal from Deepika, Argentina’s Agustina Gorzelany scored a hat-trick, sealing India’s defeat. The team has struggled to maintain momentum and will face Argentina again soon.
In a disappointing showing at the FIH Women’s Pro League, the Indian women’s hockey team faced their third straight defeat, losing 1-4 to the formidable Argentina on Tuesday. This match marked another setback for India, who have struggled to find their footing against higher-ranked teams. Deepika managed to score India’s only goal, converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a win.
The game started promising for India as they seemed to control the first quarter. Still, as the match progressed, they lost steam and allowed Argentina, currently ranked second in the world, to take the reins. Indian captain Salima Tete nearly put her team up early but missed an unmarked opportunity near the goal.
In the 18th minute, Naveent Kaur sparked a promising attack, moving the ball from the Indian half to Lalremsiami, who then passed it to Bajeet Kaur. Unfortunately, Bajeet couldn’t capitalize on the moment and missed a vital chance that could have turned the tide for India.
India showed they could compete with the world’s best after previously losing to Australia. However, their good start faltered midway through the second quarter when Argentina sensed vulnerability and escalated their offensive efforts. Victoria Falasco opened the scoring for Argentina in the 29th minute with a precise shot, pushing India into a corner.
Right before halftime, India managed to level the score when Deepika converted a penalty corner, giving them a sliver of hope. However, the third quarter took a downturn when, despite a strong beginning, the team’s control slipped away once again. Agustina Gorzelany scored off a penalty stroke in the 40th minute, tipping the scoreboard back in Argentina’s favor with a score of 2-1.
India’s defense held firm for a time, blocking Argentina during back-to-back penalty corners in the 48th minute. However, despite coach Harendra Singh’s confidence going into halftime, things only worsened for India in the final quarter when Gorzelany scored two additional goals, confirming Argentina’s 4-1 triumph. The Indian team is set to face Argentina again tomorrow, hoping to regroup after this loss.
India’s participation in the FIH Women’s Pro League has been marked by struggle, with three consecutive defeats, the latest being a significant loss to Argentina. While the team has shown flashes of potential at times, missed opportunities and lapses in concentration seem to be hindering their performance. Coach Singh will need to rethink strategies as they face Argentina once more in hopes of turning things around.
Original Source: www.news18.com
