The top two teams from the ongoing tournament have booked their berths in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers to be held later this year. Gurjit (22nd, 37th minutes) struck twice, while Navneet Kaur (31st) and skipper Rani Rampal (57th) were the other goal scorers for India. Carolina Garcia (18th) and Manuela Urroz (43rd) struck the goals for Chile at the Hiroshima Hockey Stadium.
India will take on Japan in the summit clash on Sunday. The home team beat Russia 3-1 in penalty shoot-out in the other last 4 clash after both sides were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time. World No. 9 India started on the front foot as it made six circle entries inside the first 15 minutes but to no avail.
Chile also made four circle penetrations but failed to get a shot on target, with the first quarter ending goalless. But India was in for a surprise three minutes into the second period when Carolina scored a field goal through a counter-attack. Stunned by the goal, the Indians went on the offensive and drew parity four minutes later.
Gurjit converted a penalty corner as both sides went into the halfway break at one each. A minute after the change of ends, India took the lead through striker Navneet. She picked up the ball from just outside the 25-yard circle, ran into the striking circle and slotted home. Six minutes later, India extended its advantage through another penalty corner conversion by Gurjit.
Chile did not give up and earned two penalty corners in quick succession towards the dying stages of the third quarter but failed to capitalise on those. In the 43rd minute, though, a poor clearance from the Indian defence saw Chile regain possession and Urroz reduced the margin from a Denise Krimerman’s feed.
The final quarter witnessed a good fight between the two teams till the 57th minute when Rani scored with a reverse hit.
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