India put up best show on Savita's big day but lose

BHUBANESWAR: It was a special day for Savita Punia playing her 300th match for the Indian women's hockey team and her teammates played their hearts out against the Olympic champions Netherlands to make it a memorable outing at Kalinga Stadium here on Monday.
Despite their good show, the hosts - who won 15 penalty corners - went down to the world No. 1 side 2-4. It was their fourth loss of the tournament in regular time but certainly one of their best performances.
Emma Reijnen put the Dutch in the lead in the seventh minute but India came back with a bang as Udita scored the equaliser in the 18th minute from a penalty corner. Deepika played the ball behind her back to Udita and she slapped it towards the goal. It took a deflection off a Dutch player before going in.
India continued to impress and it was all square till the end of the first half but Felice Albers (34', 47') and Fay van der Elst (40') scored one each in the third quarter to help the Dutch take a 3-1 lead.
India, however, kept up the fight and pulled one back through another PC conversion by Udita in the 42nd minute. It could have been even better for India if one of the PC conversions from Deepika hadn't hit the framework midway into the third quarter.
But in the final quarter, the Dutch took complete control of the game and Albers made it 4-2.
However, coach Harendra Singh was incredibly happy with the performance. "I can't ask for more than this. I think today (Monday) they put their best foot forward. The girls gave their hearts out and it wasn't about winning and losing," said the coach.
What was most impressive about India's showing was that they didn't sit back even once.
"I told them, 'Don't sit behind, just keep pushing them because No. 1 never likes to be pushed by anyone. The girls also showed a strong mentality. They held on and pushed them back," added the coach.
India men go down to England
Sam Ward scored a brace as the England men's hockey team beat India 3-2 later in the day. The two teams were facing off for the first time since the Olympics and it was a thrilling encounter from the very word go.
Jacob Payton first put England in the lead late into the first quarter. Abhishek scored the equaliser but Ward scored twice in a matter of 10 minutes to make it 3-1. India pulled one back in the 39th minute through Sukhjeet Singh but England held on for the win despite India winning several PCs.
Ward, meanwhile, was booed during the third quarter after he fell to the field following what looked like a slight touch to his face but escaped any punishment.
Earlier in the day, Germany men's team beat Ireland 8-2.