Indian women claim bronze in four-nation hockey tournament

New Delhi, December 19, 2011: Indian women hockey team registered a facile 4-1 win against Ireland to clinch the Bronze medal in the Four Nation Tournament held at Parana, Argentina on Sunday night.

Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half time but India came back strongly in the second session to fire three goals.

The goal scorers for India were Jaspreet Kaur (penalty corner 7th min), Anuradha Thokchom (58th min), Vandana Katariya (68th min) and Ritu Rani (penalty corner 70th min), while Aine Connery (7th min) scored for Ireland.

Ireland took an early lead in the 7th minute with the lone goal scored by Aine Connery after Indian defensive lapse. India restored parity when Jaspreet Kaur found the target from a set piece penalty corner in the 26th minute after an Irish defender obstructed Vandana Katariya in the striking circle.

India dominated the proceedings in the second half and exhibited flair and fluency as they mounted attacks with regular monotony.

The Indian forwards Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Rani and Anuradha Thokchom were well supported by midfielders Asunta Lakra, Kirandeep Kaur and Ritu Rani as they engineered forays in the rival half.

Goalkeeper Yogita Bali and deep defenders Pinky Thokchom, Jaspreet Kaur and Preety Sunila Kiro stood tall and thwarted all moves by Irish attackers.

Anuradha Thokchom put India ahead in the 58th minute when she beat Ireland custodian Emma Gray with a deflection from a right flank cross.

Vandana Katariya increase the lead to 3-1 in the 68th minute when she found the mark after a Ritu Rani- Asunta Lakra combined midfield maneuver.

India rounded off the tally at the stroke of full time with Preety Sunila Kiro  scoring from a penalty corner variation. India thus won both the bronze medals at four nation tournaments held at Buenos Aires and Parana on this tour.

In the final World Champion Argentina beat South Africa 2-0 to win the tournament.

Hockey India Press Release