Sarah Robertson on the score sheet as GB win Olympic bronze in Tokyo

Scotland’s Sarah Robertson scored a blistering goal as Great Britain’s women clinched bronze at the Tokyo Olympics with a thrilling 4-3 victory over India.

The Borders-born player played every game during the Olympics and has been an inspiration and a stalwart for GB, and Scotland, and is deserving of this tremendous success.

Great Britain started the game positively, bossing the early possession and limiting India to very little chances.

Giselle Ansley came close from a penalty corner only to find Savita in the India goal there to block the attempt.

Savita was on hand again to deny the best chance of the first quarter. Rayer had a shot from close range superbly saved by an outstretched foot before the ‘keeper showed quick reflexes to reposition and save Sarah Jones’ follow up attempt.

The game really roared into life in the second quarter as five goals were plundered in. Rayer flew down the by-line and flashed the ball across the face of goal only to see it knocked into the goal by an Indian player to open the scores.

A fast-flowing team move saw GB double the lead. Shona McCallin played a perfectly weighted final ball into Robertson who rifled the ball in off the post with a sublime finish on the reverse.

India wouldn’t take it lying down and immediately struck back. Two goals in two minutes, both from Gurjit Kaur, saw India tie things up through a brilliant brace of drag flicks.

The team didn’t stop there and took the lead just one minute from half-time. A scramble inside the circle saw the ball fall kindly to Katariya who slotted home from close range to make it three Indian goals in four minutes and stun GB.

GB came back strongly after the interval and within five minutes were level. Sarah Jones did superbly to create the initial chance with a purposeful run into the circle, the ball falling to the edge of the circle to Pearne-Webb who lashes it into the far corner.

India looked to make an immediate response and came close to restoring their lead. Two penalty corners in quick succession ramped up the pressure, but Hinch was again on hand to thwart the effort.

In an end-to-end fifteen-minute spell, GB enjoyed a flurry of chances of their own in a goal-mouth scramble before India came close from a penalty corner in the final minute of the quarter.

Great Britain restored the lead early in the final quarter thanks to Grace Balsdon’s thumping drag flick which would prove to be a decisive goal. Though there would be nervy moments, GB took the pace out of the match and worked hard to grind out the victory and secure the bronze medal.

This is the third consecutive Olympic medal earned by GB’s women following bronze at London 2012 and gold at Rio 2016.

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top