Indian Women Hockey Team ended their 16-year wait for a medal at the Commonwealth Games when they won the bronze, beating New Zealand 2-1 in shoot-out in the 22nd edition of the quadrennial Games at the University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre in Birmingham today.

The hard-fought bronze medal match was decided in the shootout after play in the regulation time ended in 1-1 draw. In the shoot out, captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia made three sensational saves to enable India win the match.

Indian women suffered a major setback earlier in the semifinals as they went down fighting to Australia 0-3 in shootout. India fought valiantly in the regulation time which ended in 1-1 draw, but missed out on converting their attempts in the shootout.

India qualified for the semifinals by finishing second in Pool-A with nine points from four matches. They won three, beating Ghana 5-0, Wales 3-1 and Canada 3-2, but lost to England 1-3.

Goalkeeper Savita Punia led the 18-member Indian women team with experienced defender Deep Grace Ekka as her deputy. Deep Grace was the only player from Odisha to secure a berth in the Indian team for the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Indian women hockey team has won three medals in the Commonwealth Games so far. Earlier, India won gold medal at the 2002 Manchester Games, beating host England 3-2 in the final in extra time. They next won the silver medal in the 2006 Melbourne Games, after losing 0-1 to the hosts Australia in the final.

In their previous edition of the Commonwealth Games, held in Gold Coast (Australia), India finished fourth after a loss to England in the bronze medal match.

INDIAN WOMEN TEAM FOR 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Goalkeepers: Savita Punia (Captain), Rajani Etimarpu. Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (Vice-Captain), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita. Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha Goyal, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Salima Tete. Forwards: Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi, Sangita Kumari.
Team Staff: Ankita Billava Suresh (Manager), Janneke Schopman (Coach), Heera Mundluru (Physiotheparist), Taren Naidoo (Other).

INDIA RESULTS:
July 29: India (Gurjit Kaur 2-PC, 39-PS; Neha 28-FG, Sangita Kumari 36-FG, Salima Tete 56-FG) beat Ghana 5-0.
July 30: India (Vandana Katariya 26-PC, 48-PC; Gurjit Kaur 28-PC) beat Wales (Xenna Hughes 45-PC) 3-1.
August 2: India (Vandana Katariya 60-PC) lost to England (Giselle Ansley 3-PC, Tess Howard 40-FG, Hannah Martin 53-PC) 1-3.
August 3: India (Salima Tete 3-PC, Navneet Kaur 22-FG, Lalremsiami 51-PC) beat Canada (Brienne Stairs 23-PC, Hannah Haughn 39-PC) 3-2.
August 5 (SF): India (Vandana Katariya 49-FG) lost to Australia (Rebecca Greiner 10-FG) 0-3 in shoot out (Regulation time 1-1). Shootout scorers: Ambrosia Malone, Amy Lawton, Kaitlin Nobbs (all Australia).
August 7 (Bronze Medal Match): India (Salima Tete 29-FG) beat New Zealand (Merry Olivia 60-PS) 2-1 in shoot out (Regulation time 1-1). Shootout scorers: Sonika, Navneet Kaur (India); Megan Hull (New Zealand).
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PHOTO: Players, coaches and support staff of Indian women hockey team pose with their bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on 7 August 2022.