India qualified for the Women’s Hockey World Cup after defeating Italy 1–0 in the semifinal of the Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifiers and advancing to the final.
Manisha Chauhan scored the only goal of the match for India against Italy.
The Indian women’s hockey team secured a place in the final of the Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifiers by defeating Italy 1–0 in the semifinal. With this result, India also confirmed direct qualification for the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Manisha Chauhan scored the decisive goal in the 40th minute to secure the victory for India. India will face England in the final. The tournament will be held from 15 August to 30 August in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Both teams played attacking hockey from the start of the semifinal match. In the first quarter, India entered the circle twice in attempts to score, while Italy also created several attacking opportunities and threatened the Indian goal on multiple occasions.
India’s defenders and goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam prevented Italy from scoring in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indian team created several scoring opportunities but did not convert penalty corners. India received their first penalty corner in the 18th minute. Navneet Kaur took the shot, but Italy goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso stopped it.
India received another penalty corner in the 27th minute, but Navneet’s shot went wide of the goalpost.
Italy began the second half with attacking play. Emilia Munitis beat the Indian defenders during one move, but Bichu Devi Kharibam made the save.
India received another penalty corner in the 40th minute, and Manisha Chauhan scored with a shot that passed through the Italian defence to give India the lead.
India received two more penalty corners in the final quarter but did not convert them. Italy attempted to equalise in the closing minutes, but India’s defensive play and goalkeeping prevented a goal.
