Tokyo Olympics: India women's hockey team edge past South Africa to stay in contention for QF berth

India women hockey players (Source: Twitter)

The India women's hockey team edged past South Africa 4-3 in their final Pool A game at the Oi Hockey Stadium South Pitch on Saturday (July 31) to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

In their five Group Stage matches, India won two and lost three. Rani and girls' fate will now depend on Ireland's game against Great Britain.

News Flash:
Women's #Hockey: India beat South Africa 4-3 in their final pool match.
It keeps India in contention for QF spot.
For India to go through, Ireland should either lose or play out a draw against Great Britain later today. #Tokyo2020 #Tokyo2020withIndia_AllSports pic.twitter.com/thDFZINSF8 — India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 31, 2021

The Rani Rampal-led Indian outfit gained a 1-0 lead in the first quarter as Vandana Katariya got her name on the scoring sheet. In the dying minutes of the first quarter, South Africa got the equaliser as Tarryn Glasby scored a goal, bringing the scoreline to 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, it was once again Katariya who scored the goal for India and Rampal's side gained a 2-1 lead. However, just like the first quarter, South Africa registered the equaliser in the final moments of the second quarter as Erin Hunter scored the goal.

India restored its lead in the third quarter as Neha scored the goal. Frustrating the Indians, South Africa managed to get the equaliser once more as Glasby scored her second goal of the match. At the end of the third quarter, the scoreline read 3-3.

Katariya was once again the MVP as she registered her third goal of the match in the fourth quarter, giving India a 4-3 lead with 11 minutes still left to play. In the end, India managed to hang on and the side registered a 4-3 win with Katariya stealing the show with her hattrick.