Indian Women's Hockey Team Stuns Reigning Olympic Champions Netherlands In Shootout

The Indian women's hockey team on Tuesday stunned reigning Olympic champions and world No. 1 Netherlands in shootout after the two sides were locked 2-2 in regulation time to end their home leg of the FIH Pro League on a winning note. Pien Sanders (17th minute) and Fay van der Elst (28th) had given the Netherlands a 2-0 lead at half time but India made a strong comeback to restore parity through stunning goals from Deepika (35th) and Baljeet Kaur (43rd). In the shootout, Deepika and Mumtaz Khan found the target for India while Marijn Veen was the lone scorer for the Netherlands, who are also the defending champions.

Veteran India goalkeeper Savita Punia made four crucial saves to play a major role in the team's victory.

The home team had lost to the same opponents 2-4 in the first leg on Monday.

In the eight matches played in the home leg from February 15, India won three, including Tuesday's, and lost five, including one in shootout.

With a bonus point from the shootout win, the Indian team is currently at the fifth spot in the FIH Pro League table with 12 points from seven matches, with England at the top with 16 points from seven games.

The Dutch were dominant in the first quarter both in terms of possession and attempts on goal. The visiting team won the first penalty corner of the evening in the fifth minute. Matla Frederique took a powerful shot but Savita made a breathtaking save.

The Netherlands won three back-to-back corners in the remaining minutes but India's tight defence denied them.

The Dutch continued to pile on the pressure in the second quarter and found the opening goal in the 17th minute courtesy of a penalty corner. The Netherlands played out a variation perfectly as captain Sanders received the ball