India's men's and women's hockey teams qualified for the Tokyo Olympics

Bhubaneswar, Ta. November 2, 2019, Saturday

India's men's and women's hockey teams have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics next year. In the second match of the Olympic Qualifier in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India's male team crushed Russia 7-1.

India's men's team won the first match 4-2. Thus, scoring both matches, India scored an 11-3 victory over Russia and secured the Tokyo Olympic ticket. The Indian men's team qualified for the 21st time with the Olympics.

The women's team, led by Captain Rani Rampal, suffered a 1-4 defeat to the United States in the second match played today. The only goal from India in today's match was scored by captain Rani Rampal, which ultimately proved crucial.

India crushed America 5-1 in the first qualifier played yesterday. According to the rules of the Olympic Qualifier, the scores of both matches were combined and India qualified for the Olympics by winning 6-5.

This is the third time India's women's team has qualified for the Olympic hockey event. The Indian women's hockey team has previously participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In the second match of the men's hockey Olympic qualifier at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium, Akashdeep Singh-Rupinder Pal Singh scored two goals in the second match from India and Lalit Upadhyay, Nilakant Sharma and Amit Rohidas scored 1-1. Alexei Sobolewski scored from Russia in the very first minute.