Mumbai: This was always going to be a difficult match for the Indian women’s hockey team. A game against the mighty Netherlands.
The last time the two teams met in a major competition, the Dutch beat India 5-1 at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“We are ready to fight for everything again,” India captain Salima Tete had said after the team held onto a goalless draw against England a day prior, securing their passage into the second stage. The Netherlands won again on Friday when they faced India in the second group stage of the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
It set the tone for what would be a long evening for the Indian team. For every Dutch foray towards the Indian goal, an Indian player charged back to narrow gaps and throw in tackles. With every pass made across the pitch by the hosts, the Indians remained calm. Whenever a Dutch player managed to get a shot at goal, Bichu Devi Kharibam and Savita Punia – India’s goalkeepers who swap places after each quarter – stood firm to make the block. the Indians threatened with some pacy counter-attacks of their own Although it was mostly one-way traffic. Navneet Kaur, India’s star forward, even got a blistering shot towards goal that cannoned off Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal’s helmet.
On Friday, the nine-time world champions took only 84 seconds to take the lead, courtesy of a Yibbi Jansen drag-flick that gave her a seventh goal at the tournament.
In the 15 previous editions of the elite tournament, the Dutch have failed to reach the title clash only twice. The Netherlands at the World Cup have always been the team to beat. Going into this year’s edition, they are the three-time defending champions looking to become the first team to win four World Cups in a row. To script their own bit of history in the tournament, they’ll need to go one step further against the Aussies.
On Friday, they refused to be blown away against the greatest team in World Cups.
