KOLKATA: The Netherlands women’s hockey team showed once again why they are the defending Olympic and World Champions as they beat India 3-1 in their FIH Pro League encounter at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
The visitors took the lead as early as in the third minute after Yibbi Jansen scored from their first penalty corner. She hit it straight through the legs of Savita, who earlier made a couple of saves to deny the Dutch from sounding the board.
Despite conceding, India hit back six minutes later to the joy of Janneke Schopman when Navneet Kaur scored from the top of the D following Sunelita Toppo’s pass from the right.
Sunelita made a lovely run down the right before playing the ball to Navneet, who then did well to turn around and find the net although she had a defender behind. Almost immediately Navneet had another chance to score but this time she failed to convert from their first PC.
The Dutch, coached by former Indian men’s coach Paul van Ass, however, were unperturbed by India’s goal and kept up their attacks going into the next quarter. Pien Dicke almost scored early on but her shot hit the upright. But six minutes into the restart, the Dutch took the lead when Fay van der Elst scored a brilliant goal.
India then wasted two PCs while Savita did well to deny the Dutch from increasing their lead. But Jansen made it 3-1 for the Netherlands four minutes into the third quarter when she converted their fifth PC. It went into the top of the goal and Savita could do nothing to keep it out. Within minutes, Jansen had a chance to complete her hat-trick but her tomahawk hit the upright and came back into play.
Although India went down in their second successive match, it was a commendable performance from them as it was the lowest margin of victory this season for the Netherlands. However, India’s biggest concern going forward will be the penalty corners.
They won six on Sunday — same as that of the Netherlands — but couldn’t convert any. Navneet, Gurjit Kaur and Udita — all had a go but they just couldn’t find the net.
Meanwhile, Schopman made four changes to the squad that played against China but it was 16-year-old Sunelita who once again stole the show for the hosts. Not only down the flanks but she looked impressive even playing forward. It was in the final quarter when she helped India win a PC with a solo effort, which, too, wasn’t converted.
India’s next match will be against Australia, who went down to China 0-3 earlier in the day, on Wednesday and it will be another difficult challenge for the hosts.
