The Hindu : Sport : Indian women lose to the Netherlands

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Thursday, Sep 28, 2006
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Indian women lose to the Netherlands

Brace by Surinder

BITTER FIGHT: The Netherlands' Sylvia Karres (centre) tries to get past India's Subhadra Pradhan (right) and Asunta Lakra. — PHOTO: AP

Madrid: Indian women paid the penalty for their lethargic start as six-time champion the Netherlands sneaked home 3-2 in the opening match of the women's field hockey World Cup here on Wednesday.

The Dutch women caught their rivals napping, pumping in two goals in the first half and then another early in the second half before the Indians woke up.

Surinder Kaur scored a brace to narrow the margin as India turned the heat on the last edition's runner up at Perth.

India could have snatched a point from the Orange team if only Deepika had made a clean hit after collecting a long pass on top of the circle in the 54th minute.

The referee allowed the goal but the television umpire over-ruled it after replays showed it came of the player's shoes.

The Indians were clearly outplayed in the first period and the initial phase of the second by the Dutch who caught them off guard with their pace and efficient stick work. Maartje Paumen opened the scoring for the Netherlands as early as in the third minute when she scored from a penalty corner.

Holland dominated ball possession and the action was very much restricted to the Indian half.

Sylvia Karres rode on the momentum to find the net in the 31st minute and double the lead.

The lead was increased soon after resumption before the Indians pulled their socks up. The Indian women, led by Jyoti Kullu, had not had a shot at the Holland goal till then. And they had forced no penalty corner, of course.

But a slice of luck changed the complexion of the game. The Indians won their first penalty corner of the game in the 48th minute when television replays showed the referee might have erred in awarding it. But it did not matter to Surinder Kaur who made a neat deflection of the shot. — PTI

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