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The Indian women's team zoomed into the semi-finals after winning the last group stage encounter of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers at Ranchi against Italy 5-1 . Entering into this fixture, the Women in Blue lost their opening game against USA 0-1 before beating New Zealand in the second fixture 3-1.
With India being third in Pool B before the Italy game, the hosts needed a draw after the USA to beat New Zealand but bettered this requirement with a dominant display. From the opening whistle, India managed to get ahead thanks to Udita, who converted the penalty corner earned by Salima Tete.
Despite almost equal possession and penetration, the Indians seemed more dominant as they managed to control the game for the majority of the fixture. After getting ahead in the first quarter, India doubled its lead in the 41st minute from Deepika's pinpoint penalty stroke after a clumsy challenge on Lalremsiami by Sofia Laurito.
Minutes later Salima Tete tripled the lead with a laser shot between the keeper and the post in the 45th minute. Entering this fourth quarter, Navneet Kaur scored the fourth goal for India with a little tomahawk to beat the keeper to her right. Then in the final moments of the game, Udita doubled her tally after converting a penalty corner in the 55th minute. In an anti-climatic ending, Italy found a consolation goal in the last minute off Machin Camila's penalty corner. Now India will take on Germany in the semis.
The results:
Pool A: Germany 10 (Sonja Zimmerman 3, Jette Fleschutz 2, Charlotte Stapenhorst 2, Pauline Heinz, Nike Lorenz, Selin Oruz) bt Czech Republic 0; Japan 2 (Kana Urata, Miyu Hasegawa) bt Chile 0
Pool B: USA 1 (Elizabeth Yeager) bt New Zealand 0; India 5 (Udita 2, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete, Deepika) bt Italy 1 (Camila Machin).
