Indian women hockey team signed off their Asian Games campaign without a medal after finishing a disappointing fourth on Wednesday, 24 November at Aoti Hockey Centre, Guangzhou. The golden goal of Keiko Manabe led Japan to one-nil triumph in the bronze medal
play-off match against India.
Indian women’s squad failed to defend bronze medal, which they obtained in last Asian Games in Doha four years ago while Japan the silver medallist of Doha Games managed to win at least bronze in 16th Asiad.
Japan earned some ten penalty corners in the game due to sloppy defence of Indian side and was able to convert only one in extra-time. India received many chances to repeat the history by obtaining bronze, however their lazy attacks could not fulfil their
dreams.
Keiko Manabe scored a golden goal in the 78th minute when she converted a penalty corner after the both sides were locked at 0-0 in regulation time.
Indian women’s hockey team goalkeeper, Dipika Murthy performed exceptionally in the match otherwise Japan could have won the match in regulation time of 70 minutes. She blocked many attacks of Japanese players to keep India in the game.
But she could not block the 10th penalty corner in the closing minutes of first half of extra-time.
Japan started the game in very aggressive way and earned two short corners in the first five minutes of the match, however, Indian goalkeeper luckily saved the hits. The Indians also received two penalty corners in first half but they failed to convert them.
Dipika Murthy blocked an outstanding hit of Kane Nagayama in the 20th minute of the match to keep the slate clean.
Indian goalkeeper also saved two shots in second half, first in the 58th minute and second in the 65th minute to dampen the desires of Japanese.
India and Japan could not break the impasse in the regulation time and went into extra time. Japan got their 10th short corner in last moments of first half of over-time when Keiko Manabe successfully converted it and acquired victory for her
country.
Indian coach of women’s hockey team, Sandeep Somesh after the match said,
“It was long match and Japan played well and dominated. We have to work hard to improve physical fitness. Dipika Murthy performed excellently but it was not the day of
India”.
The final of 16th Asian Games of women’s hockey event between South Korea and defending champion China will be played later on Wednesday.
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