The Indian women's hockey team put up a spirited fight against Argentina but lost 1-2 in the semifinal at the Oi Hockey Stadium at the Tokyo Olympics. India took an early lead in their maiden semifinal appearance but two-time Olympic silver medallists Argentina rallied to beat India, denying them a historic moment in the game's history.
The Indian women, high on confidence after beating Australia 1-0 in the quarterfinal, attacked from the start. The intent bore fruit when skipper Rani Rampal won a penalty corner in the second minute of the match. Gurjit Kaur stepped up to slam it into the net to score her second consecutive goal in as many matches.
Stung by the early goal, Argentina pressed hard and won a penalty corner of their own in the fifth minute but the Indians defended well. In fact, the Indian eves did well to thwart attack after attack from the Argentinians to keep their lead intact at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Argentinians win another penalty corner in the 17th minute but their variation failed to produce the equaliser. A minute later, however, they levelled the score, with skipper Noel Barrionuevo finding the back of the net with the third penalty corner.
India won back-to-back penalty corners in the 27th minute, but Kaur's drag-flicks were saved. They were denied a third one after Argentina got it overturned using the referral system.
The third quarter saw Argentina exhausting their referrals, trying to win a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Three minutes later, however, they managed to win one and convert it too, with Barrionuevo scoring off a deflection. Having conceded the lead, India tried to go for the kill in the final minutes of the third quarter but failed to register any shot on target.
Going all out for a win, India started the final quarter aggressively, and almost got the equaliser but Kaur's drag-flick was saved by goalkeeper Succi Maria Belen, who dived to her right quickly to palm it away. She turned the saviour again in the final minute of the game, kicking away a deflection by Navneet Kaur. India reviewed it but failed to win a penalty corner.
India will now play against Great Britain for bronze.
