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India fail to qualify for Olympics

Bruce Hamilton

India lost 2-1 to the United States on Wednesday and failed to qualify for the Sydney Olympics from the Women's Hockey Olympic qualifying tournament in Milton Keynes.

India has not won a match in this tournament and has only scored two goals. They now play-off for last position against Russia.

The weather has been against India throughout the tournament. Today's match was played with the temperature at 4 degrees Celsius and a wind-chill factor of six degrees.

"We never have this type of weather to play hockey at home," India's coach, B.S. Bhangu said.

India committed the same errors in attack as it had in the three previous matches. Passes forward went out over the backline rather than to the stick of Jyoti Sunita Kukku or Ferdina Ekka near the circle.

The choice of point of entry into the circle was often wrong with passes going to the top of the circle rather than wider to the backline to be worked into the circle with short passes or displays of the stickwork for which Indian teams are justly famous.

India has, in common with Germany's Natascha Keller, a difficulty making telling shots on goal. In the 28th minute India had the ball in possession at the top of the circle. Jyoti and Ferdina between them made three weak shots on goal, each parried by Peggy Storrar in goal or a U.S. defender until the U.S. infringed and a penalty corner was awarded.

Marystella Tirkey's penalty corner strike shaved the left post up just outside the goal.

Jyoti scored in the 31st minute when a long pass from the backfield found her in space on the left just over the quarter line going ahead. Jyoti made an angled run into the circle from the left with only Peggy Storrar to beat. Storrar stayed in goal, covering the right post. Jyoti hit past Storrar into the right side-board of the goal across Storrar.

India took the 1-0 lead into the warmth of the change rooms at the end of the first half.

The U.S. got into the match in the second half, using their fast break out wide to get past India's strong midfield defence. Michelle Vizzuso runs like a gazelle, on the tips of her toes, with astonishing speed. She led two U.S. fast breaks supported by Kelli James.

The U.S. equalised in the 13th minute of the second half when India failed to clear a U.S. raid into the top of the circle. Kate Barber and Cindy Werley exchanged passes, Werley was robbed of possession then regained possession and hit hard past Tingonleima Ksh. Chanu in goal.

India's heads went down and India lost some of the aggression evident in the first half.

U.S. captain, Tracey Fuchs, received a yellow card suspension for a second green card offence in the 22nd minute. During Fuchs' seven minute suspension, Mamta Kharab had a scoring opportunity but made a poor backstick shot on goal that did not trouble Storrar.

Fuchs returned to the pitch from suspension without India adding to its score. However the U.S. was awarded a penalty stroke in the 31st minute when an Indian defender infringed and prevented Michelle Vizzuso from scoring in front of goal. Fuchs put her flick to the left side of Tingonleima at waist height when Tingonleima went to her right.

The U.S. maintained pressure on India in the last four minutes. Mamta Kharab was given an opportunity to equalise for India but her shot from the backline on her back stick was saved by Storrar.

The United States qualified third in Pool A ahead of Ireland and India, following the subsequent defeat of Ireland by Spain, 2-0.

The four qualifiers from Milton Keynes decided today are Germany, Spain, Great Britain and New Zealand. One more will be decided from amongst China, Japan, USA and Ireland.

New Zealand qualified after Great Britain defeat China 1-0. The result placed New Zealand in second-place in Pool B behind Great Britain but ahead of China on goal difference.

The jubilation of the Great Britain team on the pitch at the end of the match was matched by the celebration in the stands by the New Zealand team.