The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team made a perfect start to their FIH Junior Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign, producing a dominant 13–0 victory over Namibia at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Monday.
It was a performance that combined ruthless finishing with sustained pressure, helping India climb straight to the top of the table.
Strikers Hina Bano (35’, 35’, 45’) and Kanika Siwach (12’, 30’, 45’) led the scoring with well-crafted hat-tricks, while Sakshi Rana (10’, 23’) struck twice. India’s goal-scoring depth was on full display, with Binima Dhan (14’), Sonam (14’), Sakshi Shukla (27’), Ishika (36’) and Manisha (60’) finding the net. The emphatic win not only gives India early momentum but also reaffirms their attacking intent at this year’s tournament.
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India wasted no time asserting themselves, registering their first shot inside the opening 30 seconds and immediately forcing the Namibia goalkeeper into action. Their sustained pressure quickly translated into chances, and as the first quarter progressed, India looked increasingly threatening.
The breakthrough arrived in the 10th minute when Sakshi Rana executed a sharp reverse flick to open the scoring. Just two minutes later, Kanika Siwach doubled the lead with a powerful strike. The Indian forwards were relentless, and the team’s structured pressing forced Namibia into errors. That momentum produced two more goals within the same minute: Binima Dhan finished a strong individual run in the 14th minute, and Sonam added India’s fourth off a neat passing exchange. At 4–0 by the end of the first quarter, India had already taken full control.
India tighten their grip before half-time
The second quarter followed the same pattern, with India enjoying long spells of possession and moving the ball with confidence. Namibia attempted to push forward but struggled to break past India’s compact midfield and organised defensive lines.
India’s fifth came through another moment of individual excellence. Sakshi Rana, lively throughout the half, surged into the circle and smashed in her second goal in the 23rd minute. Moments later, India capitalised on a penalty corner as Sakshi Shukla converted with a well-executed drag-flick.
On the verge of half-time, Kanika Siwach scored again, turning a defensive lapse into a seventh Indian goal. At 7–0, the match had effectively been settled, but India showed no signs of easing up.
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India opened the second half with the same intensity, and within seconds, they extended their lead through Hina Bano, who smashed a powerful shot into the top corner for her first goal of the match. A minute later, Hina added another after capitalising on a loose restart from Namibia, further widening the gap.
Ishika made it 10–0 in the 36th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound off a penalty corner to tap the ball home. The one-way traffic continued, and the third quarter ended with two more goals. First, Hina completed her hat-trick in the 45th minute after a fortunate deflection fell her way from a penalty corner. Seconds later, Kanika Siwach matched her with her own third, also from a penalty corner variation, giving India a commanding 12–0 lead heading into the final period.
Bench steps in as India close out the rout
With such a comfortable advantage, India rotated their squad in the fourth quarter, allowing several players from the bench to get valuable minutes. Namibia defended with determination in the final phase and appeared set to prevent any further damage.
But India’s persistence paid off once more in the final minute of the match when Manisha scored from a penalty corner to seal the 13–0 result. It was an emphatic finish to a near-perfect performance in the opening game.
Next up: a sterner test
After this commanding start, India will face a much tougher challenge when they meet Germany on 3 December at 19:45 IST. The match will reveal far more about India’s standing in the competition as they transition from an opening rout to an encounter with one of world hockey’s traditional powerhouses.
All matches of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 are being broadcast live on JioHotstar.
