Hockey: Kenya edge Ghana to finish ninth at Commonwealth Games

Team Kenya women hockey player Eleanor Chebet in action against New Zealand during the on day one of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at the University Of Birmingham grounds on July 29, 2022. (Kelly Ayodi, Standard)

Kenya national women's hockey team has finished ninth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Commonly referred to as Blades, the East African queens put behind their disappointing group stage performance to edge out rivals Ghana 3-2 in shot shout-out after playing out to a 2-2 draw during the regular time in a ninth/tenth place classification match played on Friday.

Grace Bwire gave Kenya the lead five minutes into the match as the Jackie Mwangi led side held a narrow 1-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Ghana restored parity in the second quarter when Nafisatu Umaru scored in the 25 minute through a penalty corner as the two sides went to the break tied 1-1 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Mavis Berko gave the West Africans the lead after scoring through a penalty corner in the 32 minute as Ghana ended the quarter leading 2-1.

With two minutes left before the end of the match, Flavia Mutiva restored parity for Kenya with a penalty corner goal that forced the match to shot shoot-out.

Kenya won the shoot-out 3-2 to finish ninth.

The Jackie Mwangi-led side begun the games on the wrong foot after a humbling 16-0 defeat to New Zealand last Friday before letting in eight goals against Australia on Saturday.

Kenya were in Group B alongside defending New Zealand, Australia, Scotland and South Africa.

They conceded a total of 50 goals after losing to South Africa 15-0 and 11-0 to Scotland in addition to their loses against Australia and New Zealand.