India’s first win in Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022, beat Canada 3-2 in a shootout

India achieved its first victory in the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022 on 12 July 2022. They beat Canada 3-2 in a shootout. By match time, the scores of both the teams were tied at 1-1. India’s Navneet Kaur was adjudged player of the match. However, the Indian women’s team is out of the medal race.

The Indian team had to face a 0-1 defeat against Spain in a crossover match played in Teresa (Spain) on 11 July 2022. In that match, there was a tough fight between the two teams till the 3rd quarter. However, just 3 minutes before the scheduled time, Marta Segu scored on the rebound to knock India out of the title race. A total of 16 teams are participating in the Women’s Hockey World Cup. Of these, 5 teams belong to the Confederation Nations.

Talking about the match between India and Canada, the Indian team led by goalkeeper Savita went down 0-1 in the first quarter itself. Canada’s Madeline Secco converted a penalty corner in the 11th minute. Canada got a penalty corner in the second quarter as well, but Kathleen Leahy could not convert it in front of the Indian defense.

After the end of two quarters, the Indian team came back strongly. Especially Monica used her 3D skills to break Canada’s defense several times, but Canadian goalkeeper Rowan Harris was able to keep her goalpost impenetrable.

As the game progressed in the second half, India’s Navneet Kaur, Neha Goel and Vandana Kataria were putting Canada on the back foot with their game. India got the advantage and in the 58th minute, Salima Tete scored on the rebound to level India 1-1. Rowan Harris blocked Gurjit Kaur’s shot at the penalty corner, but Salima Tete hit the ball over the goalpost on a rebound.

The match then progressed to a penalty shootout. India did not start well in the shootout as well. He was trailing 0-2. After this, first Navneet Kaur and then Sonika Tandi made India equal by scoring goals. After this 3-3 penalty shootouts were missed by both the teams. Canada’s Kathleen Leahy also missed the fourth shootout, but India’s Neha Goel made no mistake and gave India their first win at the 2022 Women’s Hockey World Cup. This victory is special for the Indian team because on July 11, it was also the birthday of captain Savita Poonia.