RAIPUR : India prevailed over Netherlands in a thrilling encounter to claim bronze at the HWL . Sardar Singh led Indian team defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in the penalty shoot-outs after the score was tied 5-5 after regulation time in Raipur.
In a see-saw match, India were slow to get of the block but scored five goals in the second half to stun world number two side. It was Netherlands who began the goal scoring spree with Micro Pruijser opening the account in the ninth minute.
Five minutes before half-time Niek van der Schoot doubled the lead for Netherlands by sending one over India goalie PR Sreejesh, hitting the roof of the net.
India went into the offensive right from the start of second half and got rewarded as Ramandeep Singh pushed one past the Netherlands goalkeeper to open the hosts account.
Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty corner for India to make it 2-2.
Both teams then went on a goal scoring spree and India manged to take a 5-3 lead with only 2:39 remaining. But Netherlands equialised with the last play of the game by converting a penalty corner with only five seconds remaining.
In the penalty shoot-out, the score was 2-2 when India got their last chance to score and win. Manpreet Singh tried his best but was blocked by the Netherlands goalie which resulted in a penalty stroke to India.
Rupinder, once again, converted the stroke to hand India a 3-2 win in the bronze medal match.