Hockey Women’s World Cup: Shootout heartache for India

New Delhi: India’s dream of breaking their 44-year-old last four drought lay shattered as Ireland registered a 3-1 win via shoot-off in the quarterfinal of the women’s hockey World Cup in London late on Thursday night.

Poor execution in the shoot-off cost India dearly as skipper Rani Rampal, Monika and Navjot Kaur failed to get past Irish goalie Ayeisha McFerran. Reena was the only scorer for India in the shoot-off.

India goalkeeper Savita produced two saves in the shoot-off but it was not enough as Ireland scored through Roisin Upton, Alison Meeke and Chloe Watkins to enter their maiden World Cup semifinal.

The only time India had managed to enter the semifinals of the show-piece event was in 1974 in Mandelieu, France, where they eventually finished fourth. In the last edition of the tournament in Rosario, Argentina India had finished a disappointing eighth. It was India’s second defeat to world no. 16 Ireland in the tournament after their 0-1loss at the pool stages.

Both teams failed to breach their opponent’s defence through out the match, leading to a shoot-off, where Ireland prevailed.