India takes a shock 1-0 lead over Australia at half time in the Olympic women’s hockey quarter final as it tries to stop the Hockeyroos winning a fourth gold medal
The Hockeyroos’ hopes of a fourth Olympic gold medal are hanging by a thread in their quarter-final clash with India at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Australian women’s hockey side went into Monday’s sudden death clash as hot favourites after they went through their pool group undefeated with five wins.
The Indians hit the front in the second quarter to lead 1-0 at half-time and denied the Hockeyroos numerous attacking opportunities in a third quarter fightback.
The winner will progress to Wednesday’s semi-finals while the loser will play off for the minor placings between fifth and eighth.
India drew first blood in their quarter-final clash against the Hockeyroos on Monday
In other quarter-final action on Monday, Great Britain will take on Spain while New Zealand will face off against the Netherlands.
Argentina has already booked a semi-final spot with a 3-0 win against Germany.
The matches for the medals will be both played on Friday.
The Hockeyroos are hunting for their first Olympic medal since winning on home soil at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
They previously won Olympic gold in 1988, 1996 and 2000.
The Hockeyroos went to Tokyo determined to put a harrowing six months behind them following the fallout of a scathing review into the national women’s squad.
The external review made 29 recommendations in response to a ‘dysfunctional’ culture in the squad, sparked by claims of body-shaming, bullying and other issues.
It also forced the resignations of Hockeyroos head coach Paul Gaudoin and high-performance director Toni Cumpston.
More to come.