Commonwealth Games: Indian women’s hockey squad lose 3-1 to England

Within the regulation time, Giselle Ansley in the 3rd minute, Tess Howard in the 40th minute and Hannah Martin in the 53rd minute were the goalscorers for England. In contrast, Vandana Katariya, in the 60th minute, was the lone goal scorer for India.

England began the game aggressively and earned several consecutive penalty corners. Giselle Ansley slotted the ball into the net with an excellent penalty corner flick in the third minute to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

Indian launched a counter-attack as Salima Tete charged through the right flank. She took the shot but failed to find the net. She sent a well-placed pass to Vandana Katariya in the 12th minute, but Madeleine Hinch pulled off an incredible save in a moment of goalkeeping brilliance.

The Indian squad immediately started hunting for an equalizer in the second quarter, but the shot by Monika went over the crossbar. They made a circle penetration in the 20th minute but failed to break past the defensive line of England.

India won two more penalty corners as they kept looking for the equalizer. However, Deep Grace Ekka and Gurjit Kaur failed to break past the English goalkeeper, allowing England to hold on to their narrow 1-0 lead as the first half ended.

England kept building pressure on the Indian defense early in the third quarter. India fought hard to clear the ball as the English side made several penetrations into the Indian circle.

Tess Howard slotted the ball into the net to double the lead for England after receiving a pass from Sophie Hamilton. India obtained two penalty corners in the ending moments of the third quarter but failed to convert.

Salima Tete got an opportunity to narrow the deficit in the 48th minute, but Madeleine Hinch quickly cleared the ball. Hannah Martin further widened the lead for England in the 53rd minute with a power penalty corner shot.

India finally got a breakthrough in the last minute of the match as India earned a penalty corner. Vandana Katariya fired the ball into the net to score a consolation goal for India to make it 3-1.

India will meet Cannada in their next Pool A match on August 3.