PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands defended their title in the women's hockey tournament at Paris 2024 here on Friday, besting China 3-1 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
This represents the sixth consecutive Olympic Games in which the Netherlands have reached the final of the women's hockey competition.
China took an early lead thanks to a goal from Chen Yi in the sixth minute.
Thereafter, the Netherlands took control of the ball for most of the first half, and Frederique Matla's effort hit the post in the second quarter. However, China defended well to keep their one-goal lead by the halftime whistle.
The Netherlands kept up their pressure in the second half. In the 51st minute, Yibbi Jansen converted a penalty corner to level the score.
The match remained 1-1 in the rest of the regular time, and the two teams went to shootout.
China had edged out Belgium in the semifinals through a shootout, but in the final, Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal managed to save China's first two efforts while her team scored their first two shots.
Zhong Jiaqi's shot kept China's hopes alive, until Veenendaal blocked the fourth shot to seal the victory.
"It was a very close game," said Netherlands coach Paul Van Ass. "Because they got a goal so early, they had the time to defend, and they defended very well."
China ultimately took the silver medal, equaling the team's best Olympic record set at Beijing 2008.
"Six months ago, a year ago, two years ago, we wouldn't have thought we'd be here," said China coach Alyson Regina Annan. "This is just amazing."
Earlier in the day, Argentina beat Belgium 2-2 (3-1) after a shootout to get the bronze.
The Netherlands' victory comes 24 hours after the country also took the men's hockey gold with a 3-1 shootout win over Germany after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
