Rani stars as India down Italy in shootout, keep Rio dreams alive
I ndia kept t heir Olympic qualification dreams alive by beating lower-ranked Italy in the shoot-out in a classification match of the women’s Hockey World League Semifinals at the KHC Dragons Stadium, here on Thursday.
The Indian hockey women’s team, ranked 13 in the world, prevailed 5-4 over world rank 16 Italy in the shoot-out of the first play-off match for the fifth to eighth positions, after both the teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of the regulation 60 minutes.
India failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities during the regulation time. The ensuing shoot-out also failed to break the deadlock as both the teams scored four times each from their five shots and the contest went to sudden-death.
Taking the first try in sudden-death, Rani Rampal shot on target before goalkeeper Savita brought off a fine save against Giuliana Ruggieri to spark celebrations in the Indian camp.
Rani Rampal had earlier scored the equaliser for India in the 33rd minute after Italy opened the scoring against the run of play in the ninth minute of the contest.
In the shoot-out, experienced striker Vandan a Katariya muffed her attempt while Navjot Kaur, Anuradha Thokchom, Rani Rampal and Deepika scored for India. For Italy, Valentina Braconi, Marcela Casale, Guiliana Ruggieri and Chiara Tiddi shot on target but Dalila Mirabella was denied by the Indian custodian.
The victory takes India into the play-off for the fifth and sixth spot on Saturday, where they will face the winner of the another classification contest between hosts Belgium and Japan.
Three Olympic spots are on offer in this tournament, but even some teams not advancing to the semifinals are likely to qualify as five continental champions might have already books a ticket to Rio de Janeiro.
India’s only previous appearance in the women’s hockey tournament of the Olympics was in 1980.
India were the dominant side from the beginning against Italy, but failed to make it count. Repeated circle penetrations were of no use as the strikers could not produce a goal-bearing shot in the often crowded circle.
TOUGH TEST FOR MEN India will face one of their toughest tests in defence when they square off against the marauding Belgians in what promises to be a robust semifinal clash of the FIH Hockey World League Semifinals here on Friday.
The encounter will test the ability of India’s defence to guard against the Belgian strikers, who have tasted enormous success in the past couple of years to boost their world ranking to No 4 — the highest in their hockey history.