India knock out SA Women's Hockey team in Tokyo

Celia Seerane of South Africa team in action with Navneet Kaur of India. Photo: Corinna Kern/Reuters

Celia Seerane of South Africa team in action with Navneet Kaur of India. Photo: Corinna Kern/Reuters

Published Jul 31, 2021

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Vandana Katariya scored a sensational hat-trick for Team India to finish off the South Africa's Women's Hockey team's hopes at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday morning.

South Africa fought valiantly with three goals of their own, but Neha Goyal's solitary strike along with Katariya's hat-trick condemned the African champions to a 4-3 defeat.

It was their last Pool A clash of the competition and meant South Africa return winless after five matches.

It was a gripping contest, though, with South Africa equalising on three occasions through Tarryn Glasby, captain Erin Hunter and Marizen Marais.

However, the incessant pressure India extered on the South African goal started to take its toll with Quanita Bobbs and Lilian du Plessis receiving green cards in the third quarter.

With the South Africans running out of legs in the intense Tokyo morning heat, it gave India and Katariya the opportunity to land the killer blow in the fourth and final quarter.

India now have an opportunity to progress to the quarter-finals, but first need to wait on the outcome of match between Ireland and Great Britain.

IOL Sport