Tokyo: After the 1-5 drubbing at the hands of the Netherlands in the opener, India women’s hockey team once again went down at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday losing 0-2 against World No.3 Germany at the Oi Hockey Stadium.
The Germans started on a rousing note keeping most of the ball possession. However, the Indians didn’t step back creating a couple of chances in the first quarter but failed to convert them. However, Germany took the lead in the 12th minute through a penalty corner conversion from captain Nike Lorenz.
The second quarter went goalless as both sides made quite a few inroads but couldn’t capitalise on those. In the third quarter, the Indians started aggressively earning a penalty stroke after Rani Rampal’s shot on goal was deflected off Lisa Altenburg’s thigh. However, Gurjit Kaur couldn’t convert the opportunity.
Soon after, the Germans made an inroad into the Indian circle and Anne Schröder (35′) took a fantastic shot from the right and helped Germany take a 2-0 lead which remained till the end. India will take on Great Britain on July 28.
Meanwhile, in badminton, Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty suffered a straight-game loss to top-ranked Marcus Gideon Fernaldi and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia in their second Group A encounter.
The World No.10 Indian duo lost 13-21, 12-21 in 32 minutes. Sukamuljo and Gideon top the group, while Satwik and Chirag are on the second spot. The Indians will look to beat England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, who had also suffered a defeat against the famed Indonesians.
