High-octane clash in Hyderabad ends with India leading Pool B
India’s national women’s side remains the team to beat in the ongoing qualifying tournament despite a deadlock in their latest outing. Playing in front of a home crowd at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground, the hosts secured a 2-2 draw against a resilient Scotland. This result leaves both nations with four points each, but the Indian side holds the advantage in the standings thanks to their superior scoring record.
Scotland took the initiative early in the opening quarter by exploiting a brief lapse in the Indian defense. A successful penalty corner in the 6th minute allowed Heather McEwan to put the visitors ahead. While India struggled initially with their set-piece execution, their offensive pressure never wavered. Although early opportunities for Udita and Lalremsiami didn't result in goals, the intent to level the playing field was evident from the whistle.
Momentum shifted during the second period as the home team found their rhythm. Navneet Kaur showed exceptional composure in the 18th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball following a penalty corner to blast it past the Scottish keeper. The excitement grew just before the halftime break when Sunelita Toppo reacted quickest during a chaotic goalmouth scramble. Her 29th-minute strike ensured India headed into the locker room with a slim 2-1 lead.
The lead proved short-lived as the third quarter commenced. Fiona Burnet finished off a clinical team move orchestrated by McEwan in the 33rd minute to equalize. For a significant portion of the second half, Scotland controlled the tempo, forcing the Indian defense to absorb waves of pressure. Goalkeeper Bichu Devi remained a vital wall for the hosts, denying several dangerous attempts to keep the scores level.
High intensity defined the closing ten minutes as India searched for a winner. The team earned multiple penalty corners in the final stages, but Scottish goalkeeper Jessica Buchanan produced several world-class saves to deny the hosts. Despite a late surge led by Baljeet’s attacking runs, the match concluded without further scoring. India now shifts focus to their upcoming encounter against Wales on March 11.
With Inputs and Image: Hockey India
