India go down 1-2 to Netherlands Antilles; finish fourth at Kazan

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) A fighting India went down 1-2 to Netherlands Antilles courtesy an extra time goal in the bronze medal match of the womens' Olympic Hockey Qualifying tournament here today.

Confronting a halfhearted and listless Antillean side, India dominated the first half, but had difficulty creating opportunities.

They grabbed the lead late in the first session when Rajwinder Kaur banged home a penalty corner.

After the break, Netherlands Antilles upped the ante, as they desperately searched for the equaliser.

After wasting a few must-score chances, it was team captain Ernestina Schreuder who scored for the Antilles, deflecting a penalty corner for her first goal of the tournament, thus forcing the match into extra time.

Extra time than lasted for all of two and a half minutes, as Netherlands Antilles won a penalty corner which Theresia Noorlander sank with a cracking hit.

With this result, India has been confined to the fourth position with Netherlands Antilles taking third place.

UNI XC AB VC2110