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The Indian women's hockey team will eye a third straight Olympics qualification as the Women's FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers start on Saturday, January 13, in Spain and India.
The Women in Blue are part of the eight-team group that will play all the matches at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. India will begin their quest for a Paris ticket with their match against the United States of America (USA). The two teams will lock horns in the Match No. 4 of the opening day, which is also the last game of the day.
The Indian team comes into the tournament after participating in the 5 Nations Tournament in Valencia. They managed just one win out of four games in the competition, losing to the likes of Belgium and Germany.
Germany is in the same group as India in the Women's FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers as well. But the two teams can only meet in the knockouts from where the top three teams will be confirmed for the Paris Olympics.
India won a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 and a month later won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, the USA finished runners-up to Argentina in the Pan American Games 2023. That means both teams missed the opportunity to grab an Olympic berth through their respective continental events.
Interestingly, the last time India and the USA played against each other, the former qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. India's current head coach Janneke Schopman was then the coach of the USA.
Let's take a look at the important details of India women vs USA women in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers below.
India vs USA: Match Details
Match Details: India women vs USA women
Date & Time: January 13, 2023, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Stadium, Ranchi
India vs USA: Head-to-Head
India and the USA have faced one another 15 times since they first met in the 1983 Women's Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. India has had the edge over this competition, having won in nine instances in contrast to the USA's four wins.
USA has not won against India since November 2019, which was also the second leg of the Olympic Qualifier. Though the USA won the match by 4-1, India qualified based on the aggregate score of 6-5.
Total Matches: 15
India wins: 09
USA wins: 04
Draws: 02
India vs USA Squads
India
Savita Punia (captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monika, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalker, Salima Tete, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Sonika, Jyoti, Beuty Dungdung, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Lalremsiami, Baljeet Kaur, Nisha
USA
Amanda Golini (c), Ashley Hoffman, Danielle Grega, Kelsey Bing, Karlie Kisha, Alexandra Hammel, Jillian Wolgemuth, Madeleine Zimmer, Brooke Deberdine, Ashley Sessa, Elizabeth Yeager, Sanne Carls, Meredith Sholder, Emma Deberdine, Leah Crouse, Kelee Lepage, Leah Crouse, Jennifer Rizzo, Abigail Tammer
India vs USA Probable XIs
India
Savita Punia (GK), Nikki Pradhan, Sonika, Udita, Nisha, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete, Ishika Chaudhary, Sangita Kumari, Baljeet Kaur, Lalremsiami
USA
Kelsey Bing (GK), Meredith Sholder, Karlie Kisha, Alexandra Hammel, Elizabeth Yeager, Amanda Golini, Jillian Wolgemuth, Ashley Hoffman, Leah Crouse, Madeleine Zimmer, Brooke Deberdine
India vs USA Prediction
India will look to make a third Olympics appearance in a row but avenge will be the term on USA's cards after they missed out on qualification in the previous edition. The USA Hockey women's team defeated New Zealand 5-4 in a thrilling contest last month.
However, India also played some terrific hockey in Spain even though they lost three games, the defeat margin wasn't that huge. India will consider their overall record against the American team and will attempt to impose their authority.
Prediction: India is expected to win by 3-1.
India vs USA Live Telecast Details, Channel List & Live Score Details
TV: Sports18
Live Streaming: JioCinema
