Jakarta: Japan dashed India’s hopes of regaining the Asian Games women’s hockey gold after a gap of 36 years with a 2-1 win in the final here on Friday.
This was the first triumph for Japan in the continental spectacle. Their previous best being the runners-up finishes at Seoul 1986, Hiroshima 1994 and Doha 2006.
The result also meant the Indian eves will have to go through the grind of next year’s Olympic qualifiers to book their berth in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the half-time break. Japan shot into lead in the 11th minute as they scored off the first penalty corner with Minami Shimizu deflecting the ball past Savita in the Indian goal.
The Japanese gave little space up front and the Indians had to resort to counter-attacks.
India drew level in the 25th as Neha Goyal deflected a fine pass from Naveneet Kaur providing much relief and joy to Indian coach Sjoerd Marijne.
India were the better team the third quarter as they created a quite a few openings, but the failed to get into striking circle on a consistent basis. However, with only one minute remaining in the third quarter Japan earned their second penalty corner and Motomi Kawamura scored off a brilliant reverse hit.
Though India tried their best in the final quarter, the equaliser eluded them. The Indians were guilty of missing a couple of fine chances in the last minute of the game.
India could gain only one penalty corner, while Japan converted both their penalty corners.
It was a disappointing end to the Indian campaign as they had won all four of their pool games before edging China 1-0 in the semifinals.
Coach rues poor finishing
Marijne, who was relieved of the men’s team duties and asked to take charge of the women’s squad after the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, blamed poor finishing for India’s loss. “We created enough chances, not enough PCs (penalty corners). If you don’t convert them in the finals, it’s difficult. Japan were almost 100 per cent with their chances. They also defended very well.
“First quarter they were better, second quarter it started changing. Third quarter we had our chances and we should have killed it. The fourth quarter was more even. But we were more in their half. And with six minutes to go they played smart,” added Marijne.
The Dutchman rued the fact India could not book the Olympic berth. “That’s the biggest disappointment. You play one match and now we may have to play six or seven. We were so close,” he lamented.