Tokyo, Aug. 6, (dpa/GNA) – The Netherlands won their third Olympic women’s hockey title in four Games on Friday when they eased past Argentina 3-1 in Tokyo.
The Dutch become the first women to win four hockey golds after surpassing the Australians, who have three titles. No other nation has more than one.
A penalty corner from Margot van Geffen and two from Caia van Maasakker set the Dutch on their way in the second quarter.
Argentina struggled to get into the game and were unlucky when van Maasakker’s first strike after a penalty corner went in off Sofia Toccalino on the line.
They pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when Agustina Gorzelany’s penalty corner went through goalkeeper Josine Koning’s legs.
The South Americans were more in the game after the break but the Dutch were fairly comfortable in seeing out a victory to go with 1984, 2008 and 2012.
Britain, the 2016 champions, earlier fought back to secure the bronze medal as they narrowly held off India 4-3.
Britain struck twice in the second quarter, before Gurjit Kaur’s penalty corner put India on the scoreboard.
Kaur levelled with another penalty corner just minutes later, before Vandana Katariya’s field goal put India ahead 3-2 before half-time.
However, unanswered goals by British captain Hollie Pearne-Webb and Grace Balsdon secured the win for a team who have struggled at times since their Rio triumph.
Pearne-Webb told the BBC: “This cycle has not been too much of a rollercoaster because there’s not been many highs. Olympic bronze even a few months ago was in our wildest dreams.
“It’s been a tough five years and I couldn’t be prouder of them all.”
GNA