India women suffered a heartbreaking late defeat against Germany in the second semifinal of the Women's Hockey Olympic Qualifier 2024 on Thursday. Germany and India played out a 2-2 at Ranchi's Birsa Munda International Stadium but the former emerged victorious in the penalty shootout to secure a Paris ticket and a final against the USA.
Indian team still gets one last chance to secure Paris Olympics qualification if they beat Japan in the third-place playoff on Friday, January 19. Deepika gave India a lead with a drag shot just before the end of the first quarter but Germany managed to equalise through Charlotte Stapenhorst who pulled off a stunning goal.
Both teams shared equal possession with the hosts managing more shots on the target. Germany took the shocking lead through Stapenhorst three minutes before the full-time whistle. But India found the late equalizer with Ishika flicking in an empty net.
India Starting Lineup: Savita Punia (GK), Monika, Nikki Pradhan, Sangita Kumari, Nisha, Udita, Lalremsiami, Jyoti, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete, Neha.
Germany Starting Lineup: Julia Sonntag (GK), Nike Lorenz, Selin Oruz, Benedetta Wenzel, Anne Schroder, Lena Micheel, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Sonja Zimmermann, Pauline Heinz, Emma Davidsmeyer, Viktoria Huse.
More to follow...
