India's women's field hockey team defeated top-ranked Netherlands in a shootout, earning a cash prize as announced by Hockey India.

Bhubaneswar: What an exhilarating match it was! India and the Netherlands faced off in a Women's FIH Hockey Pro League match at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday, and it was a nail-biting 2-2 draw. But wait, there's more - India managed to clinch the bonus point as they triumphed over the reigning champions and World Cup winners, the Netherlands, in a thrilling shootout.
The match started off with the Dutch dominating the first quarter, with possession and attempts on goal in their favor. In the 5th minute, they even won a penalty corner, but India's goalkeeper Savita made an incredible save to deny them the opening goal. The Netherlands had three more back-to-back corners but India's strong defense continued to keep them at bay.
In the second quarter, the Dutch finally managed to break through and score a goal from a penalty corner in the 17th minute. But they didn't stop there, as they extended their lead just before halftime with a fantastic attack that resulted in a diving finish into the net by Fay van der Elst.
But India wasn't going to back down that easily. They came back strong in the third quarter, with Deepika scoring a brilliant goal in the 35th minute after a fantastic run down the left flank. And just eight minutes later, Baljeet Kaur scored a much-needed equalizer for India with a perfect finish towards the near post.
The fourth and final quarter of the match was intense, with both teams giving it their all in search of a winner. The Netherlands had multiple attacks, but they were unable to convert them into goals. Meanwhile, India also had a few chances but couldn't find the back of the net. With the score still tied at 2-2, the match went into a shootout for the bonus point.
And what a shootout it was! India's Deepika and Mumtaz Khan managed to score, while Savita made crucial saves, securing the shootout win for the home team with a final score of 2-1. What a remarkable victory for India, who showed incredible resilience and determination against the defending champions.
In recognition of their fantastic performance, Hockey India announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh for each Indian player and Rs 50,000 for each member of the support staff, in addition to their existing policy of rewarding Rs 50,000 for every victory. This win will surely go down as one of the most memorable moments in Indian hockey history, and it's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. Congratulations, India!

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