Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: Indian women's team loses opening game

Application, execution, and Vandana Katariya, the absence of all three hurt the Indian women's hockey team as they were shocked by lower-ranked USA in the opening match of the Women's FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi on Saturday.

Marang Gomke Stadium in Ranchi was dead silent as a dejected Indian team took the long walk off the pitch after the full-time hooter.

Ranked sixth in the world, India dominated the possession and created numerous scoring chances, including as many as seven penalty corners, but failed to breach the Americans' impermeable defence.

This loss makes the road to the Paris Olympics tougher for the Indian team as India will face more nuanced opponents in New Zealand and Italy in the remaining two group matches.

India's next opponent is New Zealand, who will be no pushover.

India's problem with penalty corner conversions continued and despite getting seven penalty corners, the team failed to execute not even a single one.

Minutes from the first quarter, the Indians got a great chance to take the lead when Udita combined well with Neha to create the opportunity but the former's effort was saved by American goalie Kelsey Bing.

The Indians got a rude shock just after the restart as the USA took the lead a minute into the second quarter through Abigail Tamer, who was also assisted by some poor defending by the home team inside their D.

Despite creating multiple chances, India continued to falter in the final third of the US circle as the visiting side completely blocked passages for the Indian team.

'We failed to execute any of our plans'

"I think we created theoretically enough chances but we failed to execute any of our plans. But if we lose every 50/50 ball, I don't think that is enough to win games like this," coach Janneke Schopman said after the match.

Another problem that cost India was holding the ball too much and not making any off-ball runs. Due to poor positioning, Salima Tete had to hang on to the ball for way too long as she could not find many options to pass forward.

India did score a goal in the 48th minute but it was ruled out as the ball had struck the foot of Jyoti before entering the goal.

India secured three consecutive penalty corners in the dying minutes but failed to apply any power on the shots executed, resulting in the final hooter with Tamer's goal as the only difference between both sides.

"We know what we can do and will look to implement the same in the next game," Schopman said for the game against New Zealand.

India will take on world number nine New Zealand in a must-win game on Sunday.