India Women Team Hockey beats Canada 4-2 in their opening game at Commonwealth Games

-With the Rani Duo ensuring a 2-1 lead in the first half it was Jaspreet Kaur’s 2 goals which sealed India the win

Scotland, 24 July 2014: The Indian Women Hockey team running high on their form, as they beat Canada 4-2 in the opening match of the Commonwealth Games here today at Glasgow, Scotland. As was expected, India dominated the match all throughout and did not give the opponents an easy time on the field.

The match started with high momentum with both teams going on the attack immediately. India was awarded its first penalty corner opportunity in the 7th minute but was unable to convert the same. Canada realizing that the Indians were dominating them completely then went on the attack and in the 13th minute won a penalty corner but were unsuccessful also. While both the teams continued their attack on each other it was in the 21st minute when finally India scored through the stick of Rani giving her team the all required breakthrough and confidence. Canada immediately came back into the match and in the 24th minute it was B Stairs who gave her team the equalizer goal. This did not deter the Indians and within 4 minutes it was Poonam Rani who scored through a penalty corner and give the Indian team the lead 2-1 going into the break.

Coming into the second half India continued its momentum and bagged a penalty corner opportunity immediately and this time it was Jaspreet Kaur who scored in the 37th minute taking her team to a 3-1 lead. Canada in the 39th minute received a penalty corner opportunity and was in a good position to minimize the goal difference but failed to do so. In the 44th minute, it was Canada again who was awarded another penalty corner opportunity and this time K. Johansen stood tall and scored which helped her team reduce the goal margin and the scorecard read 3-2. The Indian team immediately went on the attack and in the 52nd minute Jaspreet Kaur yet again scored through a penalty corner. With this the score card read 4-2 and with India winning the match.