Indian women’s hockey team beat Ireland 1-0 in a Pool A match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on Friday, to remain in contention for a quarterfinal berth. Since Ireland were superior to India in terms of goal difference, the Indian side needed a win to remain in contention for the quarterfinals and they did just then.

India had come into this game with three morale-shattering defeats and were facing an uphill task against the world no 7.

India was on charge from the beginning of the game and continued to press high till the end of the fourth quarter. Since they continued to press high, they could breach the iron solid Ireland defence in the dying minutes of the game.

Both the teams toiled hard in the first quarter as they failed to find the back of each other’s goal. While India continued to create chances, Ireland failed at creating chances and were being outplayed.

India very tactfully earned penalty corners but failed miserably at converting them. As the second quarter was coming to an end, India got three penalty corner chances. However, India’s experienced injector Gurjit Kaur was on the sideline.

Grace Ekka stepped up but failed to convert two of the chances as Gurjit looked on from the sidelines.

When the third quarter started, India looked confident and were the better side, as one may say. Coach Sjoerd Marijne looked tense and animated on the sidelines as the Rani Rampal-led India failed to penetrate the Ireland defence. Their goalkeeper parried away each and every shot that the Indians conjured.

While the clock was ticking and the threat of an exit loomed, India got a moment of inspiration and got a brilliant field goal in form of Navneet Kaur.

India and South Africa are yet to open their accounts. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout stage.

India, who are featuring in consecutive Olympics in women’s hockey, finished a lowly 12th in the Rio Games.

In their first three games, India lost 1-5 to world no.1 Netherlands, 0-2 to Germany before suffering a 1-4 defeat at the hands of defending champions Great Britain.

India will now need to win their final Pool A match against South Africa on Saturday and hope for Ireland to face defeat at the hands of Great Britain to seal their quarterfinal berth.

The top four teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage.