Indian women finish seventh

Hastings, April 19: The Indian women’s hockey team defeated Japan 3–2 in the seventh–eighth position classification match to secure the seventh spot in the Hawke’s Bay Cup tourment here on Sunday.

It was the team’s second consecutive win against Japan, after beating them in a bronze medal match at the 17th Asian Games last year. India overturned a 0–2 goal deficit to clinch the victory on Sunday.

Japan were quicker off the mark and took the lead after only four minutes through a field goal by Mie kashima and went into the first quarter with a 1–0 lead.

Yukari Yamamoto converted a pelty corner in the second quarter to double Japan’s advantage but India reduced the margin in the 28th minute through Sushila Pukhrambam.

But Japan maintained their ascendancy to lead 2–1 at half time. India continued to apply pressure in the third quarter but had to wait till the fourth quarter to restore parity.

Deepika levelled the scores six minutes from time through a field goal and Rani secured victory three minutes later with a opportunistic strike. IANS