Indian Women Start With 2-1 Win Over Japan in Olympic Test Event

Penalty corner specialist Gurjit Kaur scored a brace as the Indian women's hockey team started its campaign at the Olympic test event with a gritty 2-1 victory over hosts Japan at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday. Gurjit Kaur gave India a 1-0 lead by scoring a goal in the ninth minute of the game, but the hosts equalised in the 16th minute as Aki Mitsuhashi scored a field goal. However, in the 35th minute, Gurjit Kaur stepped up to convert yet another penalty corner, which turned out to be the decisive goal in the match.

The Indian women's team started the match well, with an aggressive intent, and had a few opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.

It was in the ninth minute that India found themselves on the front-foot, and ended up winning a penalty corner. The resulting drag-flick from Gurjit was struck beautifully and beat the Japanese goalkeeper Megumi Kageyama to give India an early lead.