India qualified for the final of the women’s Hockey competition when they edged China 1-0 at the GBK Hockey Stadium.
India deserved the win as they were the more adventurous side, creating many opportunities but failing to make them count.
India will now square off against Japan in the final, with not only the gold medal at stake but also a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan had earlier booked their place in the final with a 2-0 win over South Korea.
The final will be played on Friday.
“I am very happy that we have made the final and it was hard work out there. The girls persisted and reaped the rewards for their efforts, “ said India coach Sjoerd Marijne.
China coach Jamilon Mulders paid tribute to his players for matching their opponents.
“We were in the game but they made good the chance from the penalty corner,” said coach Jamilon Mulders.
“We have shown that we can match teams ranked higher and our efforts to build a strong side for the future is on track.”
It was a rather tentative start from both teams that kept players behind the ball.
Therefore chances were few in between but India had the lion share’s possession.
And they were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty corner in the 8th minute.
Gurjit Kaur’s effort was saved by Chinese keeper De Jiao Jiao.
China also wasted a penalty corner in the 18th minute as the attempt by Ou Zi Xia sailed wide of the post.
At halftime both team trooped off with the score at 0-0.
Upon the commencement of the third quarter, India were awarded a penalty corner.
The shot by Gurjit Kaur was adjudged to have hit a defenders foot on the goal line and a penalty stroke was awarded.
China successfully won the referral and the decision was reversed.
Another two penalty corners for India in the 39th and 41st minutes did not yield the desired result.
With the clock ticking away to the end of the third quarter, China opted to defend and keep India at bay.
China had only one thing on their mind at the start of the fourth quarter – to defend and take the match to a shootout.
India upped the ante and after Rani had fluffed two penalty corners, India struck.
Gurjit powered home a penalty corner drag flick to give India a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
The Chinese protested and lost the video referral.
Try as they did to push players forward, China just ran out of time to find the equalizer.
And India held on to book their deserving place in the final.
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