(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India’s junior women’s hockey team finally grabbed a win on their Australia tour, beating the Australia U21 side 1-0 in a tight match at the National Hockey Centre in Canberra on Monday. Kanika Siwach sealed the victory with a key field goal in the 32nd minute, giving the visitors something to celebrate after two tough losses.
The first half stayed scoreless as both teams battled hard, but India struck early in the third quarter to break through. This win comes as a boost for the young Indian squad, who had dropped their first two games against the same Australian U21 opponents. Now, they’re looking to build on this momentum in the remaining matches of the tour.
Up next, India faces the Canberra Chill club—part of Australia’s premier Hockey One League—in back-to-back games on September 30 and October 2, wrapping up their Australian adventure.
Just days earlier, on Saturday, the Indian team suffered a 0-5 defeat in their second match against Australia U21 at the same venue. Makayla Jones led the charge for the hosts, scoring three goals in the 10th, 11th, and 52nd minutes. Sami Love added one in the 38th, and Migaliya Howell chipped in during the 50th to seal the win.
India had kicked off the tour with a close 2-3 loss on Friday and came into Saturday eager to turn things around. But Australia came out firing, with Jones’ quick double in the opening quarter putting the Indians on the defensive. India’s backline steadied in the second quarter, holding firm under pressure from the keeper and defenders, while the forwards pushed forward but couldn’t find the net.
In the second half, Australia kept the heat on. Love’s goal made it 3-0, and despite India’s counterattacks, they couldn’t close the gap. Howell and Jones finished strong in the final quarter, showing Australia’s clinical edge against the determined but outmatched Indian side.
This tour has tested India’s junior women’s hockey players against tough international competition, helping them grow ahead of future challenges.
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