China recorded a stunning 3-2 victory over the previously unbeaten Australia, defying all expectations to storm into the women’s hockey semi-finals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Despite finishing fourth in Pool A, the continental champions of Asia overcame the huge challenge posed by Pool B winners Australia, who came into the contest with four wins and a draw from the five matches they have played at Yves-du-Manoir.
Australia, coached by double Olympic gold medallist Katrina Powell, took an early lead in the contest when Alice Arnott netted a tenth minute penalty corner. Parity was restored just a minute later thanks to Ma Ning’s penalty corner effort, with Dan Wen putting China – coached by Powell’s former Hockeyroos strike partner Alyson Annan – ahead five minutes into the second quarter.
China’s lead was further extended five minutes into the third period when Zhong Jiaqi smashed home a penalty corner rebound to make it 3-1. Despite Tatum Stewart pulling a goal back in the dying seconds of the third quarter, Australia’s formidable attackers were kept at bay by China’s defence, who played a key role in this famous victory.
It is the first time China have reached the Olympic semi-finals since Beijing 2008, where the host nation ended up taking the silver medal. Having finished sixth at London 2012 and ninth at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, China are now guaranteed their highest Olympic finish for 16 years.
“To reach the Olympic semi-finals is a big pay-off for us, a representation of the hard work that we have put in”. said China’s delighted captain Ou Zixia after the match. “They were the champion of their pool. I’m very proud of my team-mates and very proud of my coach.”
When asked about the impact that head coach Alyson Annan has had on the team since taking over in 2022, Ou said: “She’s helped the team to play faster and to trust their teammates. This has been really important.”
The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more information about the hockey competitions at Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey.
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