Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022: India knocked out after loss to Spain, to meet Canada in classification tie

It
was
literally
a
heartbreak
for
India
as
Spain
scored
with
just
over
three
minutes
left
for
the
hooter
in
crossover
match,
with
Marta
Segu
netting
the
all-important
winner
for
the
hosts.

The
win
earned
Spain
a
place
in
the
quarterfinals,
while
India
will
now
meet
Canada
for
the
9th-16th
place
classification
match.

Women’s
Hockey
WC:
Indian
eves
go
down
3-4
against
New
Zealand;
stay
in
quarter-final
contention

Indian
women,
led
admirably
by
skipper
and
goalkeeper
Savita
Punia
had
kept
Spain
at
bay
till
the
fourth
quarter
when
the
home
side
scored
off
the
rebound
to
end
visistors’ medal
hopes
in
the
tournament.

Clara
Ycart
attaced
on
the
right
flank
and
Segu
volleyed
the
ball
into
the
goal,
much
to
the
dismay
of
the
Indian
camp.

Though
the
visitors
did
ask
for
a
referral,
since
there
was
no
obstruction,
the
goal
stood
as
Indian
women
were
left
crestfallen
at
the
end
of
a
closely-fought
contest.

The
Indian
women’s
hockey
team
had
played
out
two
thrilling
draws
—
against
England
(1-1)
and
China
(1-1)
respectively
—
before
suffering
a
3-4
loss
against
New
Zealand
in
the
pool
stage
of
the
tournament.

They
had
finished
third
in
Pool
B,
forcing
the
crossover
tie
with
the
home
side,
who
registered
two
wins
and
a
loss
in
Pool
C.

Spain
had
started
their
campaign
with
a
resounding
4-1
win
against
Canada,
but
lost
1-4
to
favourites
Argentina
in
their
second
match.
However,
they
bounced
back
with
a
4-1
victory
over
Korea
to
finish
second
in
Pool
C
to
set-up
the
crossover
tie
with
Pool
B
third-placers
India.

The
last
time
India
and
Spain
faced
each
other
was
during
the
FIH
Hockey
Pro
League
2021-22
where
both
teams
shared
the
honours.

India
won
the
first
match
2-1,
while
Spain
responded
with
a
4-3
win
in
the
second
leg
of
the
double-header
held
in
Bhubaneswar,
Odisha
earlier
this
year.

But
in
the
do-or-die
battle
at
Terrassa
on
Sunday
(July
10),
it
was
Spain
who
had
the
last
laugh
as
it
was
curtains
for
India’s
medal
hopes.

FIH
Women’s
Hockey
World
Cup:
Ready
for
the
challenge:
Savita
ahead
of
India’s
match
against
England

On
the
eve
of
the
crunch
match
against
Spain,
skipper
Savita
had
said,
“We
knew
the
pool
matches
were
going
to
be
really
tough.
We
fought
hard
and
never
gave
up,
but
it’s
just
that
the
results
haven’t
been
in
our
favour.
However,
we
should
quickly
put
it
behind
us,
and
focus
on
what’s
next.
We’re
still
in
contention
and
will
give
our
everything
to
qualify
for
the
quarterfinals.”

India’s
vice-captain
Deep
Grace
Ekka
too
had
stressed
on
the
need
to
make
further
improvements.

“I
think
we
could
have
played
a
lot
better
in
the
three
matches
we
played.
We
created
many
chances
in
the
pool
stage,
especially
in
the
last
game,
but
our
(penalty
corner)
conversion
was
not
up
to
the
mark.
So,
we
certainly
have
to
improve
on
our
conversion,
we;ve
to
be
more
clinical.
At
the
end,
it’s
all
about
converting
those
opportunities,”
she
stated.

But
it
just
was
not
their
day
as
they
could
not
covert
the
opportunities
which
cost
them
dear.