5 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Aug 24, 2026 01:43 PM IST
On this event, there was no magic.
Sjoerd Marijne and the Indian women’s hockey team had been right here earlier than — Australia standing between them and a historic semi-final. The Tokyo Olympics. India, within the August of 2021, had defended valiantly for a lot of the sport, and generated just one penalty nook versus Australia’s six. That was all that they wanted.
5 Augusts later, India wanted to duplicate what they did on the Olympics. The Netherlands had performed them a favour by beating China. With a win towards Australia, India would have been within the ladies’s hockey World Cup semifinals for the primary time since 1974. For lengthy stretches in Amstelveen, the echoes of Tokyo have been unmistakable. Wave after wave of Australian strain was absorbed by India’s defensive resilience. Solely this time, there was no objective, and no escape. With a 0-0 draw, Australia certified for the semis on the idea of extra objectives scored.
The Hockeyroos solely wanted a draw. Previous to the sport, coach Rhett Halkett was requested whether or not his group would play accordingly. He would have none of it. “It’s not in Australia’s nature to exit and play for a draw,” he mentioned.
What, then, is the Australian approach of taking part in video games the place a draw would suffice? It took all however 73 seconds for Halkett’s rejoinder to reach. Grace Stewart discovered a approach by, just for the objective to be chalked off by the TV umpire for harmful play.
One might have borrowed the Coldplay lyricbook to summarise the primary 10 minutes of the sport — it was, certainly, all yellow. Australia had greater than 60 % of the possession, pinning India again and dictating the rhythm. Amy Lawton tried a tomahawk within the tenth minute, however between her and the objective stood the goalkeeper who, earlier than lengthy, will turn out to be India’s most capped ladies’s hockey participant — Savita Punia.
Australia resumed a lot as they’d begun, incomes a penalty nook simply 87 seconds into the second quarter. But when there may be one certainty about Marijne’s India, it’s that they know easy methods to defend. They conceded solely three objectives within the first spherical, with solely the Netherlands conceding fewer. Add to it Australia’s underwhelming penalty nook conversion charge — 14.71 % earlier than this sport, thirteenth among the many 16 groups — and the consequence was alongside anticipated strains. No objective.
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Missed alternative
Trailing on practically each metric, and having not generated a shot for half-hour, India earned their first penalty nook with 21 seconds remaining earlier than half-time. Marijne, in additional methods than one, reiterated within the build-up to the sport that India should be medical from penalty corners. On that try, they have been something however.
The coach’s message to the group at half-time was to play freely, however freedom remained elusive.
Solely 4 minutes later, India wanted Savita to play the saviour once more. Had it not been for her save, Stephanie Kershaw would have scored her second objective of this World Cup. Because it was within the first two quarters, Australia normal the opening probability of the third. Grace Younger’s effort within the thirty fourth minute was on track, however her precision was dwarfed by Savita’s expertise. 4 minutes later, the veteran got here to India’s rescue once more, denying Kershaw once more.
However Kershaw saved knocking, and within the fortieth minute, transformed from a penalty nook. Or so she thought — till replays confirmed the ball had struck Shilpi Dabas’ arm on the way in which in, and the TV umpire was India’s greatest ally but once more.
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For all of their territorial dominance, Australia had nothing to point out on the scoreboard, however India practically did within the dying phases of the third quarter. Baljeet Kaur burst down the correct and, with the clock draining away, discovered Deepika in entrance of objective. The younger ahead swung at it, however her stick linked with nothing however air.
The begins to every quarter had belonged to Australia. Within the fourth, they wanted solely 18 seconds to win one more penalty nook. As soon as once more, India’s defence held. That, although, was not sufficient. Because the night drew to a detailed, Savita lower a desolate determine. The tears flowed freely. Her anguish inconceivable to hide, inconceivable to console. She is 36. There may not be one other August.
