MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – Belarus clinched gold at the 2020 Women's EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championship, defeating the Netherlands 4-3 in a shootout in Minsk on 26 January, BelTA has learned.
The Netherlands opened the score at the end of the first quarter. Belarus responded through Maryna Nikitsina 13 seconds before the final hooter. The player also scored the winner in the shootout.
Donja Zwinkels was named Player of the Championship. Barbora Cechakova was named Best Goalkeeper. Awards were also bestowed upon Adela Lehovcova of the Czech Republic and Maryna Nikitsina of Belarus. Noor de Baat of the Netherlands were named young players of the championship.
The victory is the first one for the Belarusian players who go third in the world rankings behind the Netherlands and Germany. The Belarusian women's indoor hockey team is a two-time European medalist. The team won bronze medals in 2016 and 2018. Belarus placed third at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2018.
The 2020 Women's EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championship took place at the Minsk Palace of Sports on 24-26 January. The tournament is the second biggest event after the FIH Indoor World Cup. The competition was a qualifying event for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2021.
Photos by Andrei Pokumeiko
