Hockey Pro League: India women beat 'depleted' Olympic champions Netherlands 2-1 in first match
hockey team stunned Olympic champions Netherlands 2-1 in the first match of their double leg FIH Pro League tie here on Saturday. The Indians scored through Neha (11th minute) and Sonika (28th), both from penalty corners, to hand the home team a 2-0 lead at half time. After the change of ends, the Netherlands scored from a penalty corner through Jansen Yibbi in the 40th minute to reduce the margin. This was India's fourth win in the FIH Pro League. Even though the Netherlands have arrived here with a second-string side, it was a creditable performance from the Indians as they were also without three key players -- Lalremsiami, Salima Tete and Sharmila Devi, who were part of India's historic fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics. Netherlands have come here without any player from their successful Olympic campaign. India avenged the 1-5 drubbing against the Netherlands in the pool stage of the Tokyo Games.
