Indian women’s hockey team in an electrifying match sealed a comfortable 3-1 win against Russia in their very first match of the Olympic qualifier on Saturday, 19 April 2008. The winning team captain Mamta Kharab remarked after the match, that their team could have performed better but none the less they are happy that their team got full points in the first match.

India had a remarkable start in the first half, but as the match progressed and drew to a close the team displayed some bad hockey. Ric Charlesworth, Technical Director of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) remarked that India should have been up 3-0 in the first half itself, which they were dominating. Also, we could have played better.

 

Fifteen year old Rani Devi opened the account for India in her debut match. Later Jasjeet Kaur took the charge to score another goal for India and the final score of 3 was secured for India after Pritamrani Siwach scored a goal two minutes before the hooter went off to end the match.