The Argentine women’s field hockey Olympic team will go up for the bronze medal in Paris 2024 after losing 3-0 to the Netherlands in the semifinals on Wednesday. The Leonas will face Belgium, who lost to China in the other semifinal.

It was always going to be a tough game for Argentina against the Dutch team that beat them in the 2022 Hockey World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics finals. But the Leonas held their own in a tightly contested first quarter.

However, the Netherlands quickly showed why they’re the best team in the world. In the 21st minute, Luna Fokke went one-on-one against goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino, who was powerless to stop a low cross shot to open the score. Just five minutes later, a good team play allowed Laura Nunnink to tap in a cross and widen the advantage.

A penalty corner early in the third quarter allowed Yibbi Jansen to make it 3-0, but the Leonas still found a way to fight back. Zoe Diaz and Eugenia Trinchinetti had big chances for Argentina to shorten the lead, but Dutch goalkeeper Anne Vennendaal made key saves to keep the score intact.

“The tournament isn’t over for us,” midfielder Agostina Alonso told sports outlet TyC after the game. “We have a final to play; it isn’t the one we came looking for, but it’s the one we have to play.”

The midfielder, who won the silver medal in Tokyo and is among the Leonas’ most experienced players, added they will now focus on processing the loss and helping the younger team members ahead of the bronze medal game.

“We have to stand up for each other; that’s why we’re a team. This is going to make us stronger, Alonso added. It’s a sport, I lost many times more than I won and this will be one more experience. We’ll rest and move on because we have a final ahead.”

Argentina leading goalscorer Agustina Gorzelany was distraught with the result. “I have no words, I want to apologize to all the fans,” she told TyC, unable to hold back her tears. “I know we’re not done, but our dream was very big. I’m exhausted, and I’ll need to recover and clear my head because I’m really hurt.”

Now the Leonas will play against Belgium, who fell 3-2 on penalties to China in the other semifinal. The match is set to start on Friday, August 9, at 9.00 a.m.

Water sports action

Outside of the fields, there’s been plenty of Argentine action at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium and the Marseille Marina.

Brenda Rojas and Agustín Vernice finished second in their heats in the Women’s Kayak Single 500m and Men’s Kayak Single 1000m respectively, and progressed to the event semifinals.

“The first heats are always hard, even more so in an Olympics,” Vernice told TyC. “I’m happy with the result. There’s a few things to adjust, because things always get harder the further you advance, but it’s a good start.”

The Bahía Blanca-native finished with a time of 3:27.18, which was the second-best time overall across all heats.

“Everyone will show their cards in the semifinals and the final,” said Vernice. “I’m happy but I’m not getting ahead of myself because things have just started.”

Meanwhile, Maria Catalina Turienzo finished 13th in women’s kite and missed out on a spot in the semifinals. 

In the men’s 58kg taekwondo, Lucas Guzman lost 2-1 to Hungarian Omar Salim.