India vs Italy FIH Olympic Qualifiers 2024 Highlights: India thrash Italy 5-1, face Germany in semi-finals

India vs Italy, FIH Olympic Qualifier Preview: Team India will be heavily favoured to defeat the relatively unfancied Italy when the two sides lock horns in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Pool B match in Ranchi on Tuesday. The India women’s hockey team’s hopes of qualifying for this year’s Paris Olympics had taken a hit after a narrow 0-1 loss against USA on Saturday. The Janneke Schopman-led side, however, bounced back the very next day with a commanding 3-1 win over New Zealand, with Sangita Kumari, Udita and Beauty Dung Dung scoring for the hosts. With USA defeating New Zealand 1-0 in the first Pool B game on Tuesday, a draw will suffice for the Indian team to progress to the semi-finals of the Ranchi leg of the Olympic qualifiers, where they will meet Pool A toppers Germany. Given the gulf between the two sides, however, with India ranked 14 places above their opponents on the FIH rankings, holding India to a draw on Tuesday could be a big achievement for the Italians. Germany thrashed Czech Republic 10-0 in the first match of the day to finish top of Pool A while Japan defeated Chile 2-0 in the other fixture.