India beat South Africa 4-3 in their a-must-win match on the final day of the women’s hockey pool stage game at the Oi Stadium on Saturday. Vandana Katariya scored a hat-trick for her nation and became the first from the country to do so in Olympics as a women’s hockey player. She propelled her side in increasing the chances of advancing to the quarter-finals.
A win to remember, a day to cherish! 👏
Some glimpses from our game against South Africa. 📸#INDvRSA #HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/OQwwrtPk7Z
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 31, 2021
India started with the early lead as the hat-trick girl Vandana Katariya netted from the close range at the fourth minute but South Africa managed to equalise at the 15th minute of the game to do 1:1 at the final minute of the first quarter.
Vandana struck again to give a lead at the 17th minute when she converted the Penalty Corner but it didn’t last long as Erin Hunter cane up with an equaliser at 30′ to end the first half at 2-2.
Indians opened the third quarter with an early lead at 32nd minute after Neha scored from the penalty corner but Marizen Marais made it 3-3 at 39′ and that’s how the third quarter ended with both the teams having three goals each.
In the fourth quarter, women in blue started with an attacking mode and gained a Penalty Corner but were saved by the opponents but a few moments later, Vandana with a third goal of the game netted a hat-trick to let her side dominate at 49th minute. South Africans failed to find any equaliser this time and the match ended in favour of the blues.
🇮🇳 4⃣ – 3⃣ 🇿🇦
एक दम से वक्त बदल दिए, जज़्बात बदल दिए…🔥🔥🔥
The #IND women’s hockey team is still in the running to qualify for the quarter-final after a thrilling 4-3 win over #RSA#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) July 31, 2021
India’s Starting XI: Savita (GK), Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Udita, Nisha, Neha, Monika, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Rani (C), Vandana Katariya.
