Rani, Gurjit strike brace against Spain to level series
MADRID: Skipper Rani Rampal and defender Gurjit Kaur struck a brace each as Indian women hockey team thrashed Spain 4-1 in the fifth and final match to level the series 2-2.
India dominated the match in terms of possession and chances created as Rani (33’, 37’) provided the side a two-goal cushion at the Consejo Superior de Deportes hockey stadium.
The India skipper was backed by two well-converted penalty corners by Gurjit (44’, 50’) towards the closing stages of the match.
Spain’s Lola Riera (58’) scored the consolation goal for the hosts.
In the second minute, Indian forward Vandana Katariya get a sight on the Spanish goal but the 26-year-old’s effort was saved by Spain’s Goalkeeper Maria Ruiz. India’s aggressive start fetched them two penalty corners in the first five minutes, but Ruiz was called into action again, and she was upto the task.
India maintained pressure on the hosts in the second quarter and did not give away possession easily.
In the third quarter India utilised their possession to good effect as Rani put the team in lead in the 33rd minute. She made it 2-0 four minutes later.
Gurjit also registered her name on the score-sheet as she converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to make the scores 3-0 in India’s favour.
India dominated in the last quarter as well, winning two penalty corners in the opening five minutes. The first was saved by a Spanish defender and the second was stroked into the back of the net by Gurjit Kaur as she scored her second goal of the match. Spain’s only goal came in the 58th minute with Lola Riera converting a penalty.
HARENDRA EYES NEW OLYMPIC DREAM
NEW DELHI: He never got the opportunity to represent India at the Olympics as a player but Harendra Singh is hopeful of living that dream in a different way -- as the coach of the senior men’s hockey team at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Considered the ‘Man Friday’ of Indian hockey, Harendra claims “nothing is impossible” for him.
Barely a month into the highprofile job, he is clear about his goals -- securing podium finishes in the upcoming Champions Trophy and the season-ending World Cup, retaining the Asian Games gold in Jakarta -- a direct ticket to the 2020 Olympics.
“Yes, I never got the opportunity to compete at the Olympics and that will always remain the biggest regret of my playing career. But there is always another day and now I have an opportunity to be at the big stage in a different capacity,” said Harendra ahead of the Champions Trophy to be held in Breda, Netherlands from June 23 to July 1.
Harendra was brought in as men’s coach for a fourth stint after Sjoerd Marijne was moved back to the women’s camp.
SEMENYA UNDER PROBE
LAUSANNE: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it had opened a probe into Caster Semenya’s challenge of controversial new IAAF rules on testosterone occurring in female athletes.
CAS said it had “registered a request for arbitration” filed by the South African two-time Olympic gold medallist against the “International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) ‘Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification.