Indian women beaten by Britain

Marlow, May 9: The Indian women hockey team's preparations for the Rio Olympics went for a toss as the Ritu Rani-led side succumbed to a 0-7 loss in the fil match to surrender the five-match Test series 0-5 against Britain here on Monday.

The Indian women's team, which maged to book an Olympics berth after a 36-year hiatus, have had a lacklustre series losing all their earlier matches.

Going into the fil match, the home team domited from the very first quarter as Sho McCallin opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Britain won two pelty corners in the quarter, but were denied from adding to their tally courtesy some improved defence from India.

The second quarter saw another flurry of attacks from the hosts as the English women won two back to back pelty corners, but India's defence held strong to deny them. India too had their chance to equalise via a pelty corner but failed to convert.

Just when it looked like the Indians were getting back into the game, Susanh Townsend beautifully converted a pelty corner in the 28th minute to make it 2-0.

Returning from the break, the home side won a pelty corner immediately which they maged to convert via Crista Cullen in the 38th minute.

Britain unleashed their attacking prowess as they maged to score another two goals in quick succession, one of them coming via a pelty corner by Kate Walsh in the 42nd minute and the other one by Helen Walsh in the 44th minute to end the third quarter 5-0.

In the fourth quarter, already down and out, the Indian girls failed to put up a fight as Susanh added two goals in the fil minutes to make it 7-0.

Despite coach Neil Hawgood exuding confidence about the team, it would be interesting to see how the side recovers for the Rio Olympics after the dismal show. The Summer Games in Rio de Janiero will be played from August 5 to 21. IANS