Rio 2016: India brace for tough Dutch test

Australian players celebrate a goal in their women’s hockey match against India on Wednesday. Australia won 6-1. (Photo: AP)

Virtually assured of a quarter-final spot after their morale-boosting win against Argentina, a buoyant India will face world number two side the Netherlands in a tough Pool B clash in the Rio Olympics here on Thursday.

After a close 3-2 win over Ireland in their opening match, India suffered a disappointing 1-2 loss against the reigning Olympic champions Germany but bounced back to notch up a 2-1 win against Argentina to remain among the top four in the six-team pool.

The target now will be to finish the league stages as high as possible in the points table so as to avoid the world number one Australia in the last eight fixture.

“We are only done with three matches and have two more to go. We need to play harder and better because it will determine whom we play against in the quarterfinals,” goalkeeper and captain Sreejesh P.R. said.

“The higher we finish in the points table, the lesser ranked team will play with us from the other pool,” he added.

India will look to get inspiration from their bronze medal play-off win against the Netherlands in the World League Final at home in December last year. “The Netherlands are one of the top ranked teams in the world and a win against them will give us more confidence. It is important that we keep up the rhythm. They have an experienced line-up and to do well against them means we need to be extremely well-prepared both mentally and physically,” the captain added.

The task will be cut out for the Netherlands-born coach Roelant Oltmans who was at the helm of the Netherlands team, when they won their first Olympic gold 20 years ago, at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Oz women hit hapless india for a six Indian women’s hockey team dished out a disappointing performance to suffer a 1-6 thrashing at the hands of a rampaging Australia in their third fixture here on Wednesday.

The Indians, who are playing in the Olympics after a gap of 36 years, were simply outplayed by the higher-ranked Australians who exposed the defensive frailties of their opponents with a comprehensive win in a lop-sided match.

Jodie Kenny struck twice (43rd and 46th minute) while Kathryn Slattery (5th), Georgina Morgan (9th), Jane Claxton (35th), Georgina Parker (36th) scored once each to route the Indians.

For India, Thokchom Anuradha scored the lone goal with just 8.3 seconds left on the clock.

The Australians, who were the 2014 World Cup losing finalists, laid seize of the Indian 25-yard with waves of attacking runs and forced seven penalty corners from which they scored four times.

India, on the other hand, got just one penalty corner which they failed to convert.