KAZAN: India’s slim chances of making it to the Beijing Olympics were buried when they were thrashed 4-0 by tournament favourites, the United States in the women’s hockey qualifiers here on Thursday.
Their third successive defeat ensured that MK Kaushik’s charges will miss out on the sporting extravaganza in the Chinese capital in August. India had earlier gone down 1-2 to the Netherlands Antilles and 2-3 to Belgium after starting with a 3-1 win over hosts Russia.
They are left with three points from four matches and even if they beat France in their final league fixture on Saturday, they cannot make it to the final with only the tournament winners ensured of a passage to Beijing. The Americans, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Tiffany Snow (29th minute), Kelly Doton (38th), Angela Loy (45th) and Carrie Lingo (48th).
The United States, with a perfect record of four wins out of four, sit pretty with 12 points and are almost ensured of a place in the final. Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles are likely to fight for the other spot in the title-decider with the European team slightly ahead on goal difference. India is placed fourth.
In Angela Loy and Tiffany Snow, the USA had the two top-scorers in the tournament and made their presence felt against the Indians. The Indians, led by Mamta Kharab, did well to hold out for nearly half an hour, but once their citadel was breached, the Americans slammed four goals in 20 minutes.
