Indian girls finish on top despite tight loss to Australia

Canberra, December 8 

The Indian junior women’s hockey team suffered its first loss of the competition today, going down 1-2 to hosts Australia in the fourth match, but still won the  Three-Nation Tournament after finishing on top of the points table.

India finished with seven points from four matches, ahead of hosts Australia on goal difference, with New Zealand finishing third with only three points from their four matches.

In the final match, Gagandeep Kaur scored the solitary goal for India in the 53rd minute to cancel out Abigail Wilson’s 15th-minute strike. However, Wilson scored again in the 56th minute to give her team a 2-1 win.

It was a difficult first period for India as they were constantly put under pressure by the hosts. The visitors had some chances of their own inside the first 15 minutes. In the 15th minute, Australia were awarded a penalty corner, which was converted by Wilson.

India tried to make up ground in the second quarter, but came up against some resolute defending by the home team. India had a penalty corner in the 22nd minute, but could not get it on target. Another penalty corner came India’s way in the 26th minute but Australian goalkeeper Hannah Astbury made a diving save. 

Two minutes later, Australia had a glorious chance of extending their lead through a penalty stroke, but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a fine save.

Both the teams had chances through penalty corners in the third period. India had a couple of penalty corners but were denied by Astbury. India started the fourth quarter by putting the hosts under pressure and that resulted in the visitors winning themselves a penalty corner in the 53rd minute. Gagandeep stepped up and finally beat Astbury to equalise for India. 

But India could not stay on level terms for too long as three minutes later, Wilson converted another penalty corner. — PTI

India’s results at 3-Nation Tournament

• Beat New Zealand 2-0
• Drew with Australia 1-1
• Beat New Zealand 4-1
• Lost to Australia 1-2

Both India and Australia finished with seven points each, but India had a better goal difference