New Zealand women failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 1996 after failing to progress from their pool, as hosts India reached the last four in Ranchi.
The final round of matches went to the wire, with the Black Sticks needing to beat world No.12. USA on Tuesday.
However, the stars and stripes continued their good form under coach David Passmore and came out 1-0 winners following an Elizabeth Yeager first-half PC. The Kiwis had two goals disallowed.
This meant that a draw was good enough for India against Italy.
And they proved a class act following a 5-1 win over the Italians to round off the group stages.
Udita scored in the first and 55th minute to set up a semi-final with Germany on Thursday. Japan will play USA.
Germany and Japan had earlier progressed from pool A in Ranchi.
The Cherry Blossoms won 2-0 over Chile, with two first-half strikes in a winner takes all battle to the last four.
Germany inflicted a 10-0 win over the Czech Republic as Sonja Zimmermann notched a hat-trick.
Clutch save by Bing! pic.twitter.com/bvvPR8tjLH
— USA Field Hockey (@USAFieldHockey) January 16, 2024
It’s simple New Zealand need a drag flicker. Slapping the ball on a pc isn’t good enough these days especially when other teams knows that it’s their go to! Also the funding for hockey in New Zealand is beyond a joke and the way the high level hockey is run is also behind. Leaving the pro league is also one of the biggest mistakes New Zealand made whoever’s idea that was needs to be fired. I’ll say New Zealand will only go down hill from here as well as the wrong people are in charge and only the people in the clicks seem to make the elite stuff