Indian junior women go down fighting to France 0-1
Despite dominating the proceedings, hosts players fumbled on all six penalty corners
LUCKNOW : The flood lights at the Padma Shri Mohd Shahid Stadium here on Friday were officially lit up almost after two years as the last time it witnessed the full lights was during the 2016 Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup, which India won.
This drew a good crowd, including handball players, hockey hostellers and parents of Indian forward Mumtaz Khan, all cheering to Salima Tete-led Indian junior side, but the luck favoured visiting team from France, which won the opening ‘Test’ match by 1-0 in the fourmatch series.
Experienced defender Ines Lardeur remained the star performer for visitors, netting the solitary goal in the third quarter of the 60-minute duel and it left the team coach Gael Foulard with some satisfaction.
“It’s a good beginning for the side,” an official from the French team reacted while watching the match from top post, meant for TV crew and other technical officials. There was an absolute dominance of India in the first three quarters as they had two penalty corners by that time. They had four more PCs in the last quarter, including back-toback in the 46th minute, but to no avail as stoppers fumbled on all occasions.
Indians dominated the proceedings from the very start and made it to the French citadel for 4-5 times in quick succession but didn’t get a chance to test the French keeper Lucie Erhmann. This also remained the case with the visitors, who could test Indian keeper Bichu Devi Kharibam only once.
Indian team continued to dominate even after a change in the ends and they had their first PC in the very first minute of the second half. However, French defender Clelia Devoo cleared the hit at ease. But within two minutes time, French women managed to reduce pressure. While pouring on a mishit from the left side, Ines hit a slow reverse flick which saw rolling inside the Indian post (1-0) in the 37th minute.
The one-goal deficit, however, left the Indian eves raising their attack for the equaliser, making inroads to the rivals penalty circle, but their own missing of hits let the opportunities go out of their hands. Salima’s hit in the dying minute went out after hitting the side bar.
As per a change in the fixture, now the second match would be played on Sunday at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College in Gorakhpur, whereas the last two matches are slated to be played at Lucknow on Tuesday and Wednesday.
EXPERIENCED DEFENDER INES LARDEUR REMAINED THE STAR PERFORMER FOR VISITORS, NETTING THE SOLITARY GOAL IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE 60-MINUTE DUEL AND IT LEFT THE TEAM COACH GAEL FOULARD WITH SOME SATISFACTION