FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifiers: India held to ...

After cruising past Uruguay, India faced a far sterner challenge from Scotland in the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium on Monday. The host recovered from an early setback to take the lead, only for Scotland to fight back and earn a deserved 2-2 draw.

Scotland capitalised on India’s sluggish start, winning a penalty corner in the sixth minute after finding too much space in midfield. Jennifer Eadie’s dragflick was deftly deflected in by Heather McEwan, handing the visitor the early advantage.

Udita and Navneet Kaur tried to inject some urgency into India’s play in the opening quarter, but Scotland’s defence stood firm. India, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm, and Baljeet Kaur’s poor trap resulted in a wasted penalty corner just before the break.

Three minutes after play resumed, India drew level through a well-worked penalty corner. After Sushila Chanu fumbled the trap, Navneet took possession, combined with Sushila in a quick one-two and smashed the ball goalward, with the shot taking a deflection off Eve Pearson on its way in.

With little more than a minute to go for the half-time break, India took the lead. Rutuja Pisal won a penalty corner, which Scotland failed to clear. Manisha Chauhan’s dragflick bounced off the woodwork resulting in a scramble in the circle, before Sunelita Toppo reacted quickest to guide the ball home.

Scotland, however, pegged back in the third quarter. McEwan dispossessed Udita and a sequence of crisp, one-touch passes carved open the Indian defence before Fiona Burnet finished calmly at the far post to restore parity.

India spent much of the quarter thereafter defending against sustained Scottish pressure, even squandering three penalty corners in the final minute of the period. Navneet spearheaded India’s push in the final quarter, but both defences held firm, leaving the teams to settle for a point each.