Vandana Katariya ended up taking India into the quarter-finals of the women’s hockey event at the Tokyo Olympics as she bagged a hattrick during India vs South Africa
Not only defeated in their first couple of matches at the Tokyo Olympics but rather toyed with and schooled, the Indian team looked head for the exit door. Dreary and lacklustre, the side stood little chance in its aspirations of making it into the quarter-finals.
Tokyo Olympics 2020 Hockey Live India Women vs South Africa Women
While the team did manage to record its first win come Friday as it won a closely fought encounter with Ireland 1-0, the side’s chances of progressing from the group were still slim. The team needed a comprehensive win against South Africa along with needing other results to swing its way.
However, the one aspect which India looked to get done with as the part in its own hands. Up against a South African outfit which was yet to win on the day, India were widely touted to string up their second win on the bounce at the Tokyo Olympics.
However, the South Africans had decided to express themselves freely in their culminating tie. With nothing at stake anymore, the side come hot out of the blocks as it battered India’s backline.
Given the ramifications from the showdown for India, the team matched South Africa’s thrust up the park. It saw us being engulfed in a seven goal thriller, one India just about managed to seal 4-3 in their favour.
Vandana Katariya Writes History With Her Hattrick At The Tokyo Olympics
And it was down to Vandana Katariya who ended up emerging as the match winner for her side. With a 100% conversion rate in her penalty corners as she converted both of them, Vandana ended up with a remarkable hattrick in her kitty to become the first ever Indian woman hockey player to score a hattrick at the Olympics.
🇮🇳 𝗪𝗢𝗡-dana!
2️⃣/2️⃣ successful penalty corner attempts by #IND's Vandana Katariya in their clash against #RSA today! She became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics.#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Hockey pic.twitter.com/VxSUwJOA7s
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 31, 2021
The win ended up working like a charm for India as they progressed to the quarter-finals from their group as the fourth ranked team. This is the first time in 41 years that India has reached the quarter-finals at the Olympics.
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