The India women’s hockey team, which is staring at an early exit after three consecutive losses, can’t settle for anything less than a victory against Ireland in their penultimate pool match here on Friday to keep quarter-final hopes alive. But after three morale-shattering defeats, it would be a Herculean task for the Indians to outplay world No.7 Ireland.
India are currently placed fifth in the six-team Pool A, just below Ireland who have registered one win and two losses from their three games.
India and South Africa are yet to open their accounts.
The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout stage. India need to win both their remaining two games — against Ireland and South Africa — and improve their goal difference.
They would also need favourable results from other games and hope for a Great Britain victory over Ireland. But these equations will come into the picture only if India can beat Ireland on Friday.
