Hockey (women): India
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2015: earn Olympic berth after 36 years
The Times of India, Aug 30 2015
Women make Olympic cut after 36 years Having finished fifth at the World Hockey League semi-finals in Antwerp (Belgium) in early July 2015 , only a few mega upsets could have prevented India's women's hockey team from making the cut for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Therefore, it was not surprising when the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced in late August 2015 that Rani Rampal & Co. had booked their ticket for the mega competition after a gap of 36 years, once England made it to the final of the ongoing EuroHockey Championships in London after beating Spain. One berth was freed up because England, and the other finalist Netherlands -who beat Germany in the other last-four clash -have already qualified for the Games.
2016
Asian Champions
The Times of India, Nov 5, 2016
The Indian women's hockey team ended the disappointment of finishing 12th at the Olympic Games, by lifting their maiden Asian Champions Trophy by beating China 2-1 in November. It took social media seconds to go berserk and the women's team was lauded for its feat from all corners. Their victory came less than a week after Indian men beat Pakistan for the Asian Champions Trophy title. Befittingly, Hockey India announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for each player and chief coach Neil Hawgood.
Hockey: India beat China 2-1 to win Women's Asian Champions Trophy
HIGHLIGHTS
Deepika scored the winner in the dying minutes to give India 2-1 victory.
Deep Grace Ekka put India in the lead via a penalty corner in the 13th minute.
Zhong Mengling scored a fine field goal in the 44th minute to make it 1-1.
The Indian women's hockey team lifted its maiden Asian Champions Trophy after Deepika Thakur struck in the final minute to give her team a thrilling 2-1 win over China in the final.
Earlier, Deep Grace Ekka converted a penalty corner to take India into the lead in the 13th minute before China equalised in the 44th minute through a field goal from Zhong Mengling.
The welcome result for the Indian women's team comes days after men beat Pakistan to reclaim the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan, Malaysia. India's best finish in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy came in the last edition in 2013 when it finished runner-up to Japan. It had finished third in the inaugural edition in 2010.
Having learnt from their group stage encounter, India refused to let China take early control of the ball, closing them down high up the pitch, often intercepting their passes and constantly putting pressure by hunting in packs. When in possession, the Indian eves held their nerve and passed the ball around neatly to penetrate China's circle. This slightly different approach to their game compared to Friday helped them earn India's first PC of the game in the 13th minute.
An innovative set-piece saw Deep perfectly send the ball past the Chinese keeper for the early lead. Going into the second quarter, India kept up the pressure by playing disciplined hockey, keeping their calm only to deny the Chinese a chance to equalise. However, the third quarter saw China's Mengling Zhong penetrate the Indian circle to score a quick field goal. But the Indian eves were unrelenting and were playing the kind of hockey that had China on the backfoot.
Though fortunes changed hands by the minute, neither team dropped the intensity going into the fourth quarter. For India, it was Rani who was acting like a lynchpin, attempting to penetrate the Chinese D to earn a PC and she found a chance with just minutes left before the final hooter went off. It was a do-or-die situation for India and it was their best chance to score. Deepika, the highest goal scorer of the tournament took the onus on to herself to convert a sensational goal with just 30 seconds to go for the final hooter, sending the Indian supports into bursts of cheers.
For the team's triumph, Hockey India on Saturday also announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh each for the players and chief coach Neil Hawgood. Besides this, the federation also announced Rs 1 lakh for the other support staff of the team. A cash award for Rs 1 lakh was announced for Deepika, the highest scorer of the tournament.
Under-18 Asia Cup: bronze
Indian girls clinch bronze Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India
Sangita Kumari scored twice as India blanked Korea 3-0 to clinch a bronze medal in the 4th Women's Under-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament in Dec 2016 .
