Semi-finalists India will aim for a hat-trick of wins when they take on South Africa in the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup on Wednesday. World number eight team India has won both the matches in Pool B. Chile 3. After defeating Japan by 2. Beaten by 1. Now he faces the 20th ranked South African team. Defeating South Africa sets them up to play hosts Spain (ranked seventh) in the semi-finals. Apart from India, Spain have made it to the semi-finals from Pool A.
Ireland, Italy and Korea are vying for the second spot from Pool A in the semi-finals. While Chile and Japan are fighting for the second place from Pool B. The eight-team tournament is very important for India as promotion and relegation are going to be implemented in it. 24 will find place in the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League, a key tournament ahead of next year’s Asian Games and 2024 Paris Olympics. The Indian team, playing in the Pro League for the first time earlier this year, finished third.
Five different players have scored for India so far with Sangeeta Kumari, Sonika, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete and Beauty Dungdung. The midfield and forward line performed well in both matches. Salima, Monika, Neha Goyal, Sonika and Navjot Kaur anchored the midfield. In the forward line, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sangeeta and Beauty have performed as expected. Captain Savita Punia has been a rock in front of the goal. Penalty corners, however, have been a cause of concern for India. India got nine penalty corners against Japan but drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur could not score a single goal.
