1-0 defeat to Japan in FIH Qualifiers pips India’s chances to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics
After a heart-shattering loss against Japan by 1-0 at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, India has failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After finishing at the 4th spot in the Tokyo Olympics on the back of some exceptional performances, Indian women were among the favourites to win the FIH Qualifiers let alone qualify for the upcoming Paris games.
But the Indian women fell short of the expectations and have been pipped out of the race to the Olympics after losing to Japan in a game for the third spot in FIH qualifiers. The top three teams of the qualifiers were supposed to qualify for the Paris Olympics which will be held later this year.
India finish fourth in the FIH Qualifiers
Germany and USA – the two finalists of FIH qualifiers have already qualified and the race now was for a single spot between Japan and India, which the Japanese women managed to clinch. India themselves put themselves in this spot after losing the match by 3-4 in shoot-outs to Germany.
Overall in the match, India dominated the possession and was able to make 13 entries inside Japan’s circle in comparison to 8 by the Japanese. India also had 11 shots at the goal and received 9 penalty corners but couldn’t manage to convert them into goals.
India’s poor execution leads to the loss
Japan on the other hand, wasn’t able to make use of the first penalty corner they received in the second minute of the game but in 2 minutes they got another chance which Japan’s Urvata made full use of and did the match first and only goal.
India did get fair chances in the game to make a comeback but their perennial problem of conversion continued as they were not able to convert them into goals. In the last 11 minutes of the game, India got three penalty corners but Deepika and Savita’s poor show poor execution let the chances pass by.
With just one and a half minutes to go, India’s Salima Tete had a golden opportunity come her away with only the goalkeeper to beat but she shot wide to the goal and sealed India’s fate in the game.
