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India win maiden women’s Junior Asia Cup

  • TNI Team

    • India beat South Korea 2-1 to win their maiden Women's Junior Asia Cup title  (Photo Courtesy Twitter @TheHockeyIndia)

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team achieved a historic victory at the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, held in Kakamigahara, Japan.

    In an exhilarating final match on Sunday, they defeated South Korea 2-1 to register their maiden Women’s Junior Asia Cup.

    The final match showcased a captivating display of skill and determination by both teams. The Indian team’s collective efforts, coupled with the exceptional performances of Annu (22nd minute) and Neelam (41st minute), who scored one goal each, ultimately led to their triumphant victory in this crucial encounter.

    In recognition of their outstanding performance and undefeated streak in the prestigious tournament, securing a spot in the upcoming FIH Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Chile, the Hockey India Executive Board proudly announced a cash prize of ₹2 lakhs for each player. Additionally, the support staff will receive ₹1 lakh each as a token of appreciation for their invaluable contributions.

    Congratulating the Indian Junior Women’s Team on their glorious achievement, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey expressed immense pride and said, “Their exceptional display of talent and determination has been truly promising. This triumph has solidified their status as a dominant force in the field, and I firmly believe it will serve as a strong foundation for their upcoming challenge at the Junior World Cup later this year.”

    Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh also extended his heartfelt wishes to the team, praising their exceptional display of character and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

    He emphasised that the sustained triumph at the Junior Asia Cup is a testament to the effectiveness of Hockey India’s national programme for young and emerging players, highlighting the promising future of hockey in India.

    The final match saw India start on the attack, winning a penalty corner in the opening minute. However, they were unable to capitalise on the opportunity. Korea quickly shifted the momentum in their favour through counter-attacks and ball possession. They also won an early penalty corner, but Neelam’s goal-line clearance denied Korea the chance to take the lead. Despite both teams playing an attacking game, the first quarter ended with no goals scored.

    Korea continued their attacking approach in the second quarter, putting India on the back foot. They were awarded several penalty corners, but India’s solid defence kept the opposition’s attackers at bay.

    India then took the lead through Annu, who calmly converted a penalty stroke. However, Korea swiftly equalised as Seoyeon Park (25th minute) scored a well-placed shot from inside the D. The second quarter ended with the score at 1-1.

    The second half of the match witnessed a shift in tactics, with Korea focused on maintaining possession while India opted for counter-attacks. India’s strategy paid off as Neelam (41st) brilliantly converted a penalty corner, putting India in front as the third quarter concluded with a score of 2-1 in their favour.

    In the final quarter, India shifted their focus to defending and controlling the tempo of the game, holding possession to protect their lead. Meanwhile, Korea, desperate to find an equaliser, made some forced errors and misdirected passes. India remained strong and stuck to their strategy, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory with a final score of 2-1.

    Speaking about the final match, Indian Junior Women’s Team Captain Preeti expressed the team’s mindset, saying, “We knew that as a team we had to play our best game to achieve something special, and that’s exactly what we did. We are elated to make our nation proud.”

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