(Hockey News) India found themselves at the mercy of the formidable Orange machine as the hockey powerhouses secured victory in the inaugural FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman. The Dutch, renowned for their speed and precision passing, dominated the traditional 11-a-side format’s world number one team during a relentless first-half performance. Although team’s goalkeeper and captain, Rajani Etimarpu, made an initial sharp save, and the team nearly took the lead, the Dutch capitalized on the unique features of Hockey5s in a ruthless display, scoring six unanswered goals in the opening half. Despite a spirited effort in the second half, the team ultimately succumbed to a 7-2 defeat in the title clash.

Hockey5s, played with five players on a shorter field, ensures near-constant action, thanks to rebound boards replacing traditional sidelines and bylines. India’s journey to the final had been marked by comebacks and second-half scoring surges. In the group stage against the USA, they overturned a 0-2 deficit to win 7-3. The quarterfinal against New Zealand saw India conceding the first goal but responding with an impressive 11-goal spree.

In the semifinal against South Africa, India overcame two deficits in the first half to secure a 7-3 victory. However, facing a 0-6 deficit against the Dutch proved insurmountable. Despite the challenging circumstances, India put up a commendable second-half performance, narrowing the score to 2-1 with goals from Rutaja Pisal and Jyoti Chhatri. While they secured the first silver, the damage had been done early in the match.

Overall, it was a positive outing for Rajani’s side, showing resilience throughout the tournament. The focus now shifts to the men’s Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, where India, led by Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Simranjeet Singh, is placed in Pool B alongside Egypt, Jamaica, and Switzerland, with the competition commencing on Sunday.

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