Great Britain on Saturday defeated Ireland 2-0 in the last game of Pool A in the women’s hockey event at Tokyo Olympics. As a result, the Indian women’s team finished at the fourth spot in Pool A and will progress to the quarterfinal.

This is the first time in 41 years that the Indian women’s team has qualified for the quarterfinal at an Olympics Games. Indian women team’s best finish at the Olympics was in Moscow back in 1980 when they reached the semi-finals but ended fourth.

India finished pool A in the fourth place with six points. India registered back-to-back wins against Ireland and South Africa. They will now face pool B toppers Australia in the quarterfinal on Monday. 

While Great Britain’s win was required, no one can take away credit from Vandana Kataria, who scored a hat-trick in India’s win in a pulsating morning clash against the South Africans.

In pics: Highs and lows of Day 9 at Tokyo Olympics

Kataria (4th, 17th, 49th minutes) achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Indian woman hockey player to score a hat-trick in the Olympics.

Young Neha Goyal (32nd) was the other goal getter.

Also read: Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya creates Olympics record with hattrick

South Africa’s goals came from the sticks of Tarryn Glasby (15th), skipper Erin Hunter (30th) and Marizen Marais (39th).

“Today’s game was really tough, South Africa gave us a really good fight. They converted their chances in the circle. Defensively, we can be a lot better,” skipper Rani said.

India’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne heaved a sigh of relief but was not happy with the number of goals his side conceded.

“We gave too many goals away, and I think we can score more goals, that is the main thing for today. We did what we had to do, we had to win this match, and we did,” he said.

“Playing in these circumstances, you feel it, the humidity and I think it’s more than 35 degrees on the pitch, it does not make it easy,” he added. Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Indians meant business and pressed hard on the South African defence from the start.