Indian Women Hockey Team's Olympic Dream Shattered After Loss To Japan In Qualifiers

Paris will remain out of bounds for Indian women's hockey team that eschewed its crisp, short-passing game to bow of 2024 Olympic qualification race with a 0-1 loss to Japan in the third-place match of FIH Qualifiers in Ranchi on Friday. Kana Urata's sixth minute strike from the penalty corner turned out to be the winner for Japan as the wheels that were set in motion for the Indian women's team, following a momentous fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, seemed to have come off after the utterly disappointing show in one of its hubs in recent years.

The top three sides from this tournament qualified for the Paris Olympics. By finishing third, Japan, booked their berth.

Germany and USA, who will play in the final later in the evening, are the other two sides to have sealed their places.

Japan were the early aggressor as they exerted pressure on the Indian defence and, in the process, had the first scoring chance, but an alert Indian skipper Savita in front of the goal came out rushing to kick away the loose ball in the second minute.

The Indians played catch-up as they failed to threaten the Japanese goal despite making some fine circle penetrations.

Japan kept up the pressure and secured their first penalty corner minutes later but the Indians defended well.

Two minutes later, India conceded another soft penalty corner and this time Urata found the back of the net through the legs of Savita with a grounded flick.

The Indian backline was put under tremendous pressure by the Japanese with some defence-splitting dangerous crosses but the hosts somehow managed to hold on.

In the 12th minute, India had their first real chance. Monika created the opportunity with a fine cross from the right flank but