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India’s remote chances of making it to the Beijing Olympics were finally dashed as the team led by Mamta Kharab lost to the United States 0-4 in a humiliating defeat. The Indian women’s hockey team was the only hope for the Indian Hockey Federation as the men’s team is already out from the Beijing Olympics. Six teams have been playing in the Olympic Qualifier matches at Kazan, Russia, out of which one winning team will make it to the Beijing Olympics beginning in August.
Amongst the four matches played so far, India has defeated only Russia in their first match. Now after three consecutive defeats, India can only hope to finish third in the six nation event. The Indian women’s hockey team will now take on France in their last pool match. The United States, on the other hand, is leading by winning all the four matches they have played so far and, hence gathering 12 points in their kitty.
The first half the match, played on Thursday, April 24, 2008, seemed to be a match between equals, though the US was ahead with 1-0 lead. The game, however, completely upturned in the second half, as the American girls scored three smashing goals in the span of just twenty minutes, leaving India at the receiving end. Belgium and Netherlands Antilles are now likely to fight with each other to decide, which team will face the US for the title win.
