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. The Netherlands won again on Friday when they faced India in the second group stage of the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Despite the 2-0 loss at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen though, India showed how much they have grown since that meeting in Japan five years ago.
The team has had to transition with new and younger players. But under the tutelage of Sjoerd Marijne (the same coach who led them in Tokyo) who returned to coach the team earlier this year, India has continued to grow and become a team that refuses to fear the opponent.
The Netherlands at the World Cup have always been the team to beat. In the 15 previous editions of the elite tournament, the Dutch have failed to reach the title clash only twice. 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.
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. It set the tone for what would be a long evening for the Indian team.
{{/usCountry}}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. It set the tone for what would be a long evening for the Indian team.
{{/usCountry}}The hosts controlled possession, made passes with remarkable ease and accuracy, and marched into the shooting circle almost at will (35 times to India’s nine). But the Indians would not go away.
“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.
And so they did.
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.
Although it was mostly one-way traffic, the Indians threatened with some pacy counter-attacks of their own. Navneet Kaur, India’s star forward, even got a blistering shot towards goal that cannoned off Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal’s helmet.
The Dutch did manage to get a second goal though, through a Frederique Matla penalty corner in the 38th minute. That was enough to ensure the Dutch a spot in the semi-final.
Despite the loss on Friday, India still has a chance to make it to the semi-final themselves.
With China and Australia playing out a draw earlier in the day, a win against Australia on Sunday will take India to the semi-final of a World Cup for only the second time – the last time that happened was in the inaugural 1974 edition.
On Friday, they refused to be blown away against the greatest team in World Cups. To script their own bit of history in the tournament, they’ll need to go one step further against the Aussies.