Navneet Kaur scored a brace because the India beat Japan 3-1 to complete ninth within the FIH Ladies’s Hockey World Cup right here on Wednesday.
Navneet (thirtieth, forty fifth minutes) scored two discipline targets, whereas Deep Grace Ekka (thirty eighth) sounded the board as soon as from a set piece within the classification match.
Japan’s lone purpose got here from the sticks of Yu Asai within the twentieth minute.
It was shut contest within the first 5 minutes of the opening quarter, however each the groups failed to attain targets.
Quickly India acquired an enormous probability to take the lead however Vandana Katariya’s effort from shut vary was saved by Japan goalkeeper Eika Nakamura.
Each groups fought laborious for the remainder of the primary quarter however to no avail.
India made a superb begin within the second quarter and acquired a few possibilities inside a span of two minutes however targets eluded the Savita-led aspect.
Japan took the lead within the twentieth minute by means of Yu Asai who transformed a penalty nook.
India quickly earned their first penalty nook however wasted the chance.
They lifted their recreation within the last minutes of the second quarter with relentless assaults however Japan defended stoutly.
India drew parity on the stroke of the half time when Navneet discovered the board from a discipline effort.
India began on the entrance foot after the change of ends and earned their sixth penalty nook of the match however, as has been the case the complete event, they wasted the prospect as soon as once more.
Lalremsiami was threatening from the left flank however the Japanese defenders had been upto the duty.
Nevertheless, India gained one other penalty nook and this time Ekka scored handy her aspect the lead eight minutes into the second half.
The Indians mounted assault after assault on the Japanese purpose and on one event Vandana got here tantalizingly shut however her effort was saved by Japanese goalkeeper Nakamura.
The play was largely surrounded contained in the Japanese half after the change of ends as India attacked in numbers relentlessly.
India got here near taking a two-goal lead within the third quarter however Sharmila Devi’s purpose was disallowed because the ball hit her physique.
The third quarter utterly belonged to India as they raised their recreation leaps and bounds to hassle the Japanese defence which resulted in Navneet’s second purpose in direction of the tip.
India continued in the identical vein within the fourth and last quarter with Vandana being denied once more by the Japanese goalie.
Japan tried laborious within the last minutes however did not breach the resolute Indian defence.
