Odisha Warriors have become the first team to qualify for the final of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL). Despite the 3-2 shootout loss to Delhi SG Pipers at Ranchi in Jharkhand yesterday, the Odisha Warriors managed to seal their spot in the finals. Goals from Navneet Kaur and Yibbi Jansen saw both sides locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Elodie Picard’s brilliance between the sticks Navneet Kaur’s crucial penalty stroke, and a composed goal in the penalty shootout helped the Pipers win the match.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s HIL, the Tamil Nadu Dragons won the penalty shootout 4-3 against the Hyderabad Toofans, after the Pool B match ended in a 2-2 draw at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela last night. Blake Govers and Jip Janssen scored for the Dragons while Tim Brand and Maico Casella scored for the Toofans. Abharan Sudev of Tamil Nadu Dragons got the Player of the Match for his electrifying performance on the pitch full of energy and creativity.
In today’s clashes, JSW Soorma Hockey Club will play the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the Women’s HIL at 6:00 PM, while Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers will play Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Men’s HIL at 8:15 PM.