On Wednesday, the Indian junior women’s hockey squad played out a 1‑3 loss to Germany at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped inside Santiago’s Estadio Nacional, during the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup. India’s lone scorer was Hina Bano, who struck from a penalty corner at the 58‑minute mark. Germany’s tally came from Lena Frerichs’ penalty stroke on the 5th minute, Annika Schönhoff’s tap‑in at 52 minutes, and Martina Reisenegger’s goal in the 59th minute.
The match opened with a fierce showdown, as Germany pressed high and forced the Indians back, earning a penalty stroke within the first five minutes. Frerichs calmly converted, giving her side a 1‑0 advantage. India gradually found their rhythm, creating chances but failing to level the score early in the first half.
In the second quarter, the intensity remained high. Manisha produced a brilliant run to set up a slick counter‑attack, but the ball slipped past the German line. Another penalty stroke offered Germany a chance to widen the gap near the half‑time whistle, yet Frerichs again missed, leaving the score unchanged at 1‑0.
The second half saw the Indians attacking more aggressively, pushing into the German penalty area and nearly scoring from a penalty corner. After a tense third quarter, the pace dipped slightly, with India still trailing by one goal going into the final period.
They continued to press for an equalizer, even so close to scoring from another penalty corner, but the shots never found the back of the net. Germany finally doubled the lead when Schönhoff calmly finished a tap‑in at 52 minutes. India managed a reply from Bano at 58 minutes, but when Reisenegger tucked in a third goal at 59 minutes, Germany secured all three points.
The Indian side will take on Ireland on December 5 at 17:30 IST.
— bsk/
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