Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: The Indian women’s hockey team squandered multiple scoring opportunities to go down 2-4 against defending Olympic champions Netherlands in their FIH Pro League clash on Monday.

Despite earning 13 penalty corners compared to the Netherlands’ three, India failed to make them count. The Dutch side capitalized on their chances, with goals from Emma Reijnen (7th minute), Felice Albers (34th, 47th), and Fay van der Elst (40th) sealing their victory.

India’s only goals came through penalty corner conversions by Udita (18th, 42nd).

The match also marked the milestone 300th international appearance of Indian stalwart and former captain Savita Punia. However, it was a tough outing for the veteran goalkeeper, as Reijnen’s reverse hit found the net in the seventh minute.

India responded with attacking intent and earned back-to-back penalty corners but failed to convert. The Dutch doubled their lead through Albers, who struck from a rebound after Savita's initial save.

The Indians fought back in the second quarter, winning two more penalty corners, with Udita finally breaking through in the 18th minute. The Netherlands earned a penalty corner in the 25th minute but was denied by India’s defense.

After the halftime break, Albers displayed brilliant stickwork, weaving past Indian defenders before slotting home a superb reverse hit past goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam in the 34th minute. Van der Elst soon extended the lead with a well-taken field goal.

Udita kept India in the contest by converting another penalty corner in the 42nd minute. However, the missed opportunities haunted India, as they wasted two crucial penalty corners in the 47th minute.

Albers put the game beyond India’s reach, scoring her second goal in the 47th minute to seal the win for the Netherlands.

India will have a chance to make amends when they face the Netherlands again in the return-leg match on Tuesday.