New Delhi: The Indian women's hockey team won the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2022). This is the team's first medal at CWG in 16 years. After a controversial loss in the semi-finals, India won the bronze medal match by defeating defending champions New Zealand 2-1 in a shootout. The Indian team was leading 1-0 in the final moments of the match but with less than 30 seconds remaining for the final hooter, they gave a penalty corner to the opposing team. It was converted into a penalty stroke as Olivia Meri scored the equalizer for New Zealand. In the regulation time, India got the lead through Salima Tete in the 29th minute.
Coming off their heartbreaking loss to Australia in a controversial semifinal after the stopwatch controversy, Indian hockey players celebrated their bronze medal win by dancing. The video of the players' dance is becoming viral on social media. The players of the Indian women's hockey team can be seen dancing on the famous Bollywood song "Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walo".
India loses controversial semi-finals against Australia
India gave a tough competition to Australia in the CWG 2022 semi-final match. The match was leveled 1-1 till regular time. After this, India's captain Savita Poonia blocked Australia's first goal in the penalty shootout, but as per the refree the eight-second countdown had not started on the scoreboard. Because of this, Australia got another chance to take a penalty shootout. Malone then scored a goal in the controversial retake to give her team the lead. India's women's team eventually lost the semi-final match 0-3 in a shootout.