Paris will stay out of bounds for Indian ladies’s hockey workforce that eschewed its crisp, short-passing recreation to bow of 2024 Olympic qualification race with a 0-1 loss to Japan within the third-place match of FIH Qualifiers in Ranchi on Friday. Kana Urata’s sixth minute strike from the penalty nook turned out to be the winner for Japan because the wheels that had been set in movement for the Indian ladies’s workforce, following a momentous fourth-place end on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, appeared to have come off after the totally disappointing present in considered one of its hubs lately.

The prime three sides from this event certified for the Paris Olympics. By ending third, Japan, booked their berth.

Germany and USA, who will play within the remaining later within the night, are the opposite two sides to have sealed their locations.

Japan had been the early aggressor as they exerted stress on the Indian defence and, within the course of, had the primary scoring probability, however an alert Indian skipper Savita in entrance of the objective got here out dashing to kick away the free ball within the second minute.

The Indians performed catch-up as they did not threaten the Japanese objective regardless of making some tremendous circle penetrations.

Japan stored up the stress and secured their first penalty nook minutes later however the Indians defended properly.

Two minutes later, India conceded one other tender penalty nook and this time Urata discovered the again of the web via the legs of Savita with a grounded flick.

The Indian backline was put underneath super stress by the Japanese with some defence-splitting harmful crosses however the hosts someway managed to carry on.

In the twelfth minute, India had their first actual probability. Monika created the chance with a tremendous cross from the fitting flank however Lalremsiami’s deflection went over the bar.

As has been the case on this event, the Indians had been responsible of not utilizing each the flanks. It was predictable hockey from the Savita-led facet as they tried to construct most of their assaults from the fitting flank.

The Indians allowed Japan to regulate the proceedings as they strayed away from their energy, that’s taking part in attacking hockey.

Japan continued from the place they left within the first quarter and secured their third set piece simply after the restart.

The Indians, nevertheless, bought some momentum within the second quarter, securing two penalty corners in fast succession.

First, Lalremsiami created the chance with a tremendous 3D abilities, however Deepika’s effort was saved by Japan goalkeeper Eika Nakamura.

Seconds later, India earned one other set piece however as soon as once more Deepika did not breach the Japanese defence.

The Indian gamers did not present any intent to win 50-50 balls. They additionally appeared to have run out of concepts, and principally tried to hit the ball from the 30 yard circle as a substitute of choosing crisp, quick passes, which is their energy.

Trailing 0-1, the Indians got here out attacking after the change of ends and made a couple of good strikes, however objectives eluded them.

Six minute into the third quarter, India secured one other penalty nook however Deepika did not get previous Nakamura in entrance of Japan objective.

Minutes later, Japan managed to get a set piece however the Indians defended properly to remain within the hunt.

Chances got here thick and quick for India within the type of penalty corners as they secured back-to-back set items within the forty third minute however Udita Duhan failed to interrupt the Japanese defence along with her slap shot.

Japan had been put underneath super stress by the Indians within the third quarter with repeated forays. The house workforce’s techniques labored because it secured one other penalty nook seconds from the ultimate break, however as soon as once more, the dearth of execution did them in.

It was full domination from the Indians after the change of ends however that didn’t translate into objectives.

India earned as many as 9 penalty corners in the whole 60 minutes however their perennial downside of conversion continued.

In the final 11 minutes of the sport, India secured three penalty corners however Deepika and Udita’s poor report continued.

A minute and a half from the ultimate hooter, an unmarked Salima Tete bought the very best probability for India to equalise however, with solely the goalkeeper to beat, she shot large.

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