The Indian ladies’s hockey group misplaced 3-2 to the People’s Republic of China in a closely-fought match in Limburg, Germany, on Sunday.

This was India’s first match of the European tour, which is a part of the group’s preparations for the Asian Games 2023. The tour consists of three matches in Germany – one towards China and two towards the hosts – and a four-nation hockey match in Spain.

Navneet Kaur (24′, 45′) scored each of India’s objectives whereas Chen Jiali (9′), Zhong Jiaqi (45′) and Xu Yanan (51′) netted to information China to a win.

India attacked from the beginning and earned a penalty nook within the third minute however the Chinese defence thwarted the hazard. A couple of minutes later, an infringement whereas defending noticed India concede a penalty stroke. China capitalised on the prospect and scored their first objective. The subsequent couple of minutes noticed each the groups commerce penalty corners however neither aspect may convert. 

India started the second quarter on a constructive observe. A well-executed assault noticed them win back-to-back penalty corners however neither yielded any objectives. However, India went on the offensive and scored the equaliser by way of Navneet Kaur’s subject objective minutes later.

Riding on the momentum, India took the lead within the forty fifth minute when Navneet Kaur scored her second objective to make it 2-1. However, China had been fast to equalise by way of a penalty nook by means of Zhong Jiaqi.

Xu Yanan’s 51st-minute strike gave China a 3-2 lead. Though India created a number of possibilities within the dying minutes of the sport, they had been unable to beat the Chinese defence. 

India will play Germany in back-to-back matches on Tuesday and Wednesday subsequent earlier than departing for Spain.