Women’s Hockey: After Tokyo high, India drift away from Olympics; fail to make Paris cut after losing 1-0 to Japan at Ranchi qualifiers
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There will be Indian representation in women’s hockey at the Paris Olympics.Unfortunately for Savita Punia & Co., it won’t be them. The only one who’ll be there in the French capital come July will be former men’s team goalkeeper and Sydney Olympian Jude Menezes – as coach of Japan.
Menezes’s side dished out a defensive masterclass to protect their slender one-goal lead for 54 minutes as Japan dashed India’s Olympic qualifying hopes. The team that finished fourth in Tokyo will not be going to Paris.
In one dugout, the Mumbai-born Menezes got on his knees and said a silent prayer. In the other, teary-eyed Indian players sat in silence.
Silence is what had gripped the stadium for large parts of the winner-takes-all third-place match at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh stadium. It’s what Me...