New Delhi, March 15, 2015: The final of the Hero FIH Hockey World League Round 2 (Women) lived
up to the tag of the Finale game, as the spectators were treated to a
spectacular, breathtaking and intense game of hockey between India and Poland. The game tied 1-1 at the
end of the first half and was slated as anyone’s game until the last
thirty minutes which decided the fate of both the teams. It was the Indian eves
who got their experience into play, keeping their nerves intact and beat
the opponents 3-1. With the win, India made a clean sweep as they
won all six matches played in the tournament.
The determined eves of India
attacked from the moment the game started which put immediate pressure on the
opponents. Just four minutes into the game, India was awarded with a
penalty corner but missed as the ball found the goalkeeper. Two minute later,
Rani hit at the D where Anupa Barla was waiting for the touch but
the Polish goalkeeper was quick to avert the danger and India lost the
opportunity to score.
Five minutes left in the quarter, India had another shot at the
penalty corner but Poland
goalkeeper cleared the danger easily. Seconds left for the first session to
end, India finally struck
when a beautiful back stroke by Vandana Katariya left no chance for the Poland
goalkeeper to react. Within seconds India was again back in the D and
Anupa Barla took another shot at the goal but was unfortunate to find the
goalkeeper again. This ended the electrifying first quarter with India leading
1-0.
Immediately into the second quarter, Poland struck in the
17th minute as they attacked and got a penalty corner in their name. Poland stunned
the Indian defence as a variation helped Oriana Walasek to put the ball
into the nets helping them to equalize. The rest of the session was a story of
missed chances as each team tried to take the lead in the game. Just
seconds left in the game Ritu Rani tried to put the ball past the goalkeeper
but was cleared by the latter. A counter attack by Anupa Barla was also
unsuccessful in putting the ball into the nets.
With the game tied at 1-1, both the teams tested each others defence, as their
attacks continued looking at taking the lead over the other. Four minutes left
for the end of the third session, Poland was awarded with a penalty
corner where a variation again was adopted by them and Natalia Wisniewska
taking a shot at the goal and beat the Indian goalie but unfortunately the
ball hit the side post refraining the team to take the lead. It was the
Indian eves who kept their nerves and scored the much sorted second goal
as a quick and clean pass allowed Rani to take the scorecard to 2-1 in the
44th minute.
Half way into the fourth quarter Poland got another shot at the
penalty corner and an opportunity to level the score but danger was averted by
the Indian defence. Three minutes left of the Finale match, India had
another penalty corner registered in their name. Jaspreet Kaur hit hard but the
Poland
goalie was again quick to save and clean the ball from the D. Same
minute Poland
was awarded a penalty corner but were unable to capitalize. India counter
attacked immediately and Ritu Rani scored in the 59th minute taking
the score to 3-1 and going on to register the teams sixth consecutive win in
the tournament.
A happy, High Performance Director, Hockey India, Roelant Oltmans
said, “First quarter we played astounding. The way Rani scored her goal
was brilliant and not everyday someone scores a goal like that. We had
pressure on us in the third quarter but we came back strong. The team has a
very good understanding on the field and they did a great job today”
Speaking post the match Ritu Rani, Indian Captain said “We are very happy
we won. We played well but we should have played better. From here we will
concentrate on Round 3 and we are confident of our performance”.
Top Scorer of the Tournament: Vandana
Katariya, India
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Marta Kucharska, Poland
Junior Player of Tournament: Rani, India
Player of the Tournament: Marlena Rybacha, Poland
HI Press release
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