Women's FIH Pro League: 3 Worrying Signs For India After Third Consecutive Defeat

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Indian women’s hockey team continued its poor run in the Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24 home leg. A 3-0 loss to World No.3 Australia on Wednesday raised questions over the team’s ability to bounce back from the ghosts of Paris Olympics omission.

Grace Stewart, Tatnum Stewart, and Kaitlin Nobbs were on the scoresheet for the visitors with two goals coming in the first half. Although both teams made enough scoring opportunities, the Women in Blue failed to capitalise from their end.

This is the third straight loss for the India women’s hockey team, and to be precise enough, fifth in a row after the Olympic qualifiers heartbreak against Germany and Japan. Let’s take a look at a few reasons that persistently bother India in their game.

High-pressing game not bringing the results

It has been observed that India has corroborated a style to press hard and create attacking opportunities. This can only be fruition when the forwards are sharp in their den, which hasn’t been the case for the Indians in the tournament so far even though senior campaigner Vandana Katariya returned to the playing XI.

Though in-form mid-fielder Salima Tete has tried to feed enough chances to the forward line, the unit just can’t materialise. Bringing the ball into the circle seems an arduous task for this side.

Gurjit Kaur not at her best

Gurjit hasn’t made an impression since she returned to the side after missing out on the Olympic Qualifiers. The question around her absence was a regular remark when India struggled with penalty corners during big events such as Asian Games, Champions Trophy, and Qualifiers.

However, the 28-year-old dragflicker seemingly has lost her mojo in terms of both departments - dragflicking and defending -- at the Women's FIH Pro League. She couldn’t get hold of Yibbi Jansen in the Netherlands game which cost India the extended lead from the World No.1 side. Not that things changed against the Aussie women.

Udita Duhan missing out on penalty corners

Udita, the attacking midfielder, turned out to be India’s rescuer when the team struggled with penalty corners in the Olympic Qualifiers. She was the highest goal-scorer for the team (3 goals) in the tournament held in Ranchi last month. But in the recent game against Australia, Udita, too missed, step up to convert the injections. Two of her shots were sent wide off the goalpost in the second half.