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The Indian women’s hockey team suffered a 0-3 loss against Argentina in the final match of the Belgium leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 on Sunday, May 26. With this, the Indian women wrapped up the winless Belgium chapter to world number 2 Argentina in Antwerp. After the loss, the Indian women are now seventh on the FIH Pro League points table with eight points from 12 games. The team that finishes ninth in the standings will be eliminated from the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in the next season.
Argentina gained an early lead by beating the Indian high press and getting into the shooting circle in the very first minute of the game. Celina Di Santo deflected Maria Granatto’s shot to score the side’s first goal of the day. The Argentinian failed to extend their lead from a penalty corner despite the Indian women struggling to play out of their half.
The Indians began to grow into the game and forced the rival goalkeeper Clara Barberi into action. However, the eventual winners were quick to come back and earned several penalty corners. But Bichu Devi Kharibam and Salima Tete kept them at bay. A rare Indian error resulted in a penalty corner but owing to Deepika’s drag, the flick was comfortably swatted away.
In the third quarter, the Indians once again earned a penalty corner but failed to convert into a goal. India didn’t stop making an effort but they weren’t able to make any significant progress and Argentina’s Maria Campboy scored a goal for the side in the 39th minute.
In the final quarter, Argentina earned a penalty corner just after the beginning and Maria Granatto made the best of Agustina Gorzelany’s flick over Savita in goal to extend the lead to 3-0. In their next match, the Indian women’s hockey team will take on Germany in their next game on Saturday.
