Bhubaneswar: In a thrilling encounter at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday, the Indian women’s hockey team pulled off a stunning 2-1 shootout victory over reigning champions and World Cup winners, the Netherlands, in a Women’s FIH Hockey Pro League match.
The game ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw in regulation time, with India rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third quarter, thanks to goals from Deepika (35’) and Baljeet Kaur (43’).
The Netherlands’ Captain Pien Sanders (17’) and Fay van der Elst (28’) had earlier given their team a commanding lead.
The remarkable win prompted Hockey India to announce cash prizes of Rs. 1 lakh for each Indian player and Rs. 50,000 for each support staff member, in addition to the organization’s existing reward policy of Rs. 50,000 per victory.
The Netherlands dominated the opening quarter with superior possession and frequent scoring attempts.
They earned multiple penalty corners, but India’s defense, led by a series of brilliant saves from goalkeeper Savita, denied them an early breakthrough.
The Dutch finally opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Sanders converted a penalty corner variation with a tight-angle shot.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 28th minute as Luna Fokke set up Elst for a diving finish.
Trailing 2-0, India mounted an inspiring comeback in the third quarter.
Deepika’s solo effort in the 35th minute gave India hope, as she dribbled past defenders and scored with precision.
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In the 43rd minute, Baljeet Kaur equalised with a first-time strike off a pass from Sharmila Devi, reigniting India’s chances.
The final quarter saw both teams fighting hard for the winner.
While the Netherlands created multiple chances, Savita’s heroics and India’s disciplined defense ensured the game remained tied at full time, forcing a shootout.
In the shootout, Deepika and Mumtaz Khan scored for India, while Savita made crucial saves to secure the victory.
The upset against the world’s top-ranked team is a significant milestone for Indian women’s hockey, highlighting the team’s resilience and growing strength on the global stage.
