GOLDEN GIRLS BRING INDIA TRIPLE GLORY
(From left) Haryana
■ shooter Manu Bhaker (16), the women’s table tennis team and weightlifter Punam Yadav, who won gold medals at the 21st Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
GOLDCOAST: A penalty stroke converted by Gurjit Kaur in the 48th minute helped India shock world No 2 England 2-1 in a Pool A preliminary round match here and maintain their chances of sealing a semi-final place by topping the group .
India conceded an early goal after 35 seconds when England skipper Alexendra Danson scored a field goal. The Indians showed great character to come back and get the better of a team ranked eight places higher.
Navneet Kaur and Gurjit scored for India in the last two quarters to seal victory at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.
India had a number of chances in the first quarter --- Namita Toppo and Lalremsiami had a shy at the goal and India had two penalty corners towards the end of the quarter but could not score.
England had the better of the exchanges in the second period but India had to thank goalkeeper Savita for her good work as she brought off some good saves.
India upped the ante after change of ends and made some concerted attacks. Vandana Kataria got a shot at the goal but was thwarted. England earned a penalty corner but Savita was alert.
India earned two penalty corners but could not capitalise on them. In the dying minutes of the third quarter, Navneet got the chance and she beat the England goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
It came down to the final quarter and India earned a penalty stroke in the 48th minute and Gurjit converted to make it 2-1.
England exerted a lot of pressure in search of the equaliser but the Indian defence thwarted them.
India were upset by lowerranked Wales in their first match but bounced back to defeat Malaysia 4-1 in their second match.
However, Sunday’s victory against England proves their title credentials as England are the highest-ranked team at the Games and a win against them will give the Indians a lot of confidence as they get into the business end of the tournament.