India clinched the inaugural FIH Women’s Nations’ Cup name with a 1-0 win over Spain within the summit conflict right here on Saturday.
The win sealed India’s berth within the 2023-24 Pro League.
Gurjit Kaur scored the all-important target within the 6th minute from the penalty nook because the Commonwealth Games bronze medalists ended the eight-nation match with 5 wins at the trot.
The Janneke Schopman-coached facet had overwhelmed Ireland 2-1 by means of shootout within the semifinals right here on Friday.
India had been ranked a place under Spain (7th) within the FIH chart.
By distinctive feature of profitable the Nations Cup, the Indian staff has been promoted to the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League, a key match forward of subsequent 12 months’s Asian Games and 2024 Paris Olympics.
It used to be Spain who first earned an early penalty nook however Indian captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia made a very good save.
India earned their first penalty nook within the 6th minute and transformed it to take the lead.
Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur despatched the ball to the left facet of Spanish goalkeeper Clara Perez and controlled to overcome her.
India performed brilliantly initially of the second one quarter.
Lalremsiami earned a PC for the staff however this time Gurjit may now not arrange to overcome the goalkeeper together with her drag-flick.
Spain quickly regrouped and made a number of raids at the Indian circle prior to incomes a PC on the midway degree of the second one quarter.
However, the house facet failed to search out the again of the web as Savita stood tall in entrance of the target. India had been 1-0 up on the finish of part time.
Spain started the second one part aggressively on the lookout for an equalizer and Savita got here off the traces to make a high quality save.
India were given an opportunity to attain their 2d target of the fit once they earned a PC however the Spanish goalkeeper used to be alert and dived to the proper of the goalpost to stay her staff within the sport.
Spain managed ownership brilliantly and confirmed very good ball rotation in India’s part and it just about paid off when Lucia Jimenez put the ball behind the web.
However, the target used to be disallowed because the ball didn’t shuttle 5 meters out of doors India’s circle after the umpire gave a loose hit to Spain.
The ultimate quarter noticed thrilling motion between each the groups. Spain pressed prime on the lookout for their first target and earned a PC 10 mins prior to the total time whistle.
However, the Indian protection stood company and saved the ball clear of their web.
Salima Tete discovered herself in a goal-scoring place within the opposition part however she failed to overcome Clara Perez with a tomahawk.
Spain, then, earned a PC past due within the quarter however Savita dived to her proper to make a very good save.
Hockey India introduced 2 lakh for each and every participant and 1 lakh for each and every toughen workforce for profitable the match.
India and Spain had performed within the FIH girls’s Hockey Pro League 2021-22 season as substitute groups after pull-outs by means of Australia and New Zealand because of COVID-19 similar problems.
India had completed a creditable 3rd within the 2021-22 FIH Pro League. The nation has now not certified for the continuing 2022-23 Pro League season.