India register 3-1 win against Wales at the FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup

The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat Wales 3-1 in their 9–16 classification match at the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup, played at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional, Santiago.

Goals from Hina Bano (14’), Sunelita Toppo (24’) and Ishika (31’) ensured India remained on course for a strong finish to their campaign, with Wales’ Eloise Moat (52’) scoring a late consolation. India entered the contest with clear intent, pressing high from the first whistle and pinning Wales inside their own half early on. Their attacking approach was evident within the opening 30 seconds when they earned a penalty corner, setting the tone for a dominant first quarter.

India moved the ball sharply through midfield, frequently exploiting pockets of space between the Welsh defensive lines, but early chances went begging as final touches inside the circle lacked precision.

Wales briefly threatened to shift the momentum when they were awarded a penalty stroke midway through the first quarter. However, Indian goalkeeper Nidhi rose to the occasion, producing an excellent save to deny Wales the opening goal. That moment proved pivotal, as India quickly regained control and finally broke the deadlock towards the end of the quarter. A swift attacking move down the flank saw Sakshi Rana show good awareness inside the circle, squaring the ball for Hina Bano, who made no mistake with a well-timed tap-in to put India 1-0 ahead in the 14th minute.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, India continued to dictate proceedings in the second quarter. They earned another penalty corner soon after the restart, underlining their territorial dominance. Wales struggled to clear their lines as India maintained a high press and recycled possession efficiently. Persistence paid off in the 24th minute when Sakshi Rana once again played a key role. Her initial effort was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly to Sunelita Toppo, who reacted quickest to slot the ball home from close range, doubling India’s advantage.

India’s numbers in the first half reflected their authority. With 14 circle penetrations and sustained spells of possession, they kept Wales on the back foot and limited their opponents to only sporadic counter-attacking opportunities. Defensively, the Indian backline remained compact and disciplined, ensuring that Wales were unable to capitalize on turnovers. At halftime, India headed into the break with a deserved 2-0 lead and clear tactical control over the contest.

The third quarter saw India raise their intensity further. Within the opening minute of the second half, they struck again to all but seal the contest. A sharp attacking move resulted in the Welsh goalkeeper parrying an initial shot, but Ishika was perfectly positioned to latch onto the rebound and score in the 31st minute. The 3-0 scoreline reflected India’s superior anticipation inside the circle and their ability to consistently win second balls.

From there, head coach Jyoti Singh’s side focused on game management without losing attacking purpose. India stretched the Welsh defence by switching play laterally and making penetrative runs through midfield. Their high press prevented Wales from building sustained phases, while India’s defenders stayed organized to snuff out any potential threat. The third quarter ended with India firmly in control, having pushed Wales deep and limited their scoring chances.

In the final quarter, India continued to enjoy the majority of possession and went in search of additional goals. While they created a couple of half-chances, Wales showed resilience and began to commit more players forward. Their effort was rewarded in the 52nd minute when Eloise Moat found the back of the net, capitalizing on a rare opening in the Indian defence to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Despite the setback, India responded calmly. They tightened up defensively, slowed the tempo where necessary and saw out the remaining minutes with composure. Wales were unable to build on their goal, as India closed passing lanes and controlled the final stages of the game to secure a deserved victory.

The 3-1 result underlined India’s dominance in structure, pressing and chance creation, while also highlighting key contributions from attacking players across the field. With confidence renewed, the Indian Junior Women’s team will next face Uruguay on December 9 as they continue their campaign at the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup 2025.

All matches of the tournament are being live streamed on JioHotstar.