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The Indian women, who were already relegated to the second-tier FIH Nations Cup in the subsequent season, let a lead slip as the Chinese women rallied to pick up a victory.
FIH Pro League: Indian Women’s Hockey Team 2-3 China. (X)
The Indian women’s hockey team succumbed to their eighth straight defeat in the FIH Pro League, with a 2-3 loss against China on Sunday.
The Indian women, who were already relegated to the second-tier FIH Nations Cup for the upcoming season, let a lead slip as the Chinese women rallied to pick up a victory.
Sunelita Toppa put the Indians ahead before Zhang Ying pegged the Chinese back on level terms. Ying went on to nullify India’s lead yet again as she struck near immediately after Rutuja Dadaso Pisal’s strike for India. Xu Wenyu handed her side the win as she converted a set piece to pile on the Indian women’s side’s miseries.
The defeat condemned India ended to the bottom of the nine-team standings with 10 points from 16 matches.
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China earned the first real chance of the match, but Chen Yang shot wide. India soon found their footing and took the lead through Toppo. After receiving the ball from Neha Goyal, Sunelita entered the circle and scored with a well-executed reverse hit.
China secured their second penalty corner in the 11th minute, but the Indians defended bravely. Trailing, China went on the offensive and secured back-to-back corners in the 18th minute, but India continued to defend stoutly.
India committed a rare defensive lapse when Manisha Chauhan’s clearance hit the head of a Chinese forward, resulting in the onfield referee giving a penalty stroke against India.
India opted for a referral, and the video referee reversed the decision, awarding a penalty corner instead of a stroke as the foul was unintentional.
However, this time the Indian defence fell short as Ying struck with a perfect drag flick to level the scores.
China had another penalty corner 30 seconds before halftime, and Ying slammed the ball into the top left corner of the Indian goal to take a 2-1 lead.
In the 37th minute, Neha’s effort was brilliantly saved by an alert Chinese goalkeeper, but the Indians got back-to-back penalty corners. Rutuja scored from a fine variation assisted by Navneet Kaur to level the scores at 2-2.
The Indians went all out thereafter and earned another penalty corner in the 40th minute, but China’s first rusher defended well.
After that, it was all China as they secured a penalty corner in the 48th minute, but India survived despite scrappy defending.
China earned two more penalty corners in the 50th minute but wasted the chances.
However, the relentless Chinese secured another penalty corner in the 53rd minute, and Zhang’s flick was beautifully deflected in by Xu for the winner.
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