Indian Women's Hockey Team to Get Rs 1 Lakh for Win Over Netherlands

All members of the winning Indian women's team will receive Rs one lakh as cash award from Hockey India (HI) following their breathtaking shootout victory over reigning Olympic champions and world No. 1 Netherlands in a FIH Pro League match here on Tuesday.

The support staff would take home Rs 50,000 each after the team's 2-1 win in a shootout. The scores were tied at 2-2 at the end of the final whistle.

"Following the incredible upset victory, Hockey India announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh to each Indian player and Rs. 50,000 to each member of the support staff in addition to their existing policy of rewarding Rs. 50,000 for every victory," the HI said in a statement.

Pien Sanders (17th minute) and Fay van der Elst (28th) had the Netherlands leading 2-0 at half-time but India scored a resounding comeback to level scores through brilliant goals by Deepika (35th) and Baljeet Kaur (43rd).

Deepika and Mumtaz Khan were the finders of the target for India in the shootout while Marijn Veen was the sole scorer for the Netherlands, who are also the defending champions.

Seasoned India goalkeeper Savita Punia came up with four vital saves to help her team win the game.

The home team had lost to the same team 2-4 in the first leg on Monday.

In the eight matches of the home leg that were played between February 15, India have won three, including Tuesday's, and lost five, including one in the shootout.

With an extra point from the shoot-out victory, the Indian team is at the fifth position in the FIH Pro League standings with 12 points from seven games, while England is leading with 16 points from seven games.