The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team wrapped up its Australia Tour with a spirited but narrow 4-5 defeat against Canberra Chill at the National Hockey Centre in Canberra.
Despite a strong fightback in the second half, India fell just short of equalising, ending their overseas campaign on a challenging note.
The match began brightly for India, who struck early through Sukhveer Kaur. Her well-executed penalty corner conversion in the sixth minute gave the visitors an immediate 1-0 lead, setting an encouraging tone.
However, Canberra Chill responded strongly. Their forward Canhess Lauren Yee scored back-to-back field goals in the 12th and 19th minutes, turning the momentum in favour of the home side. By the end of the first quarter, India found themselves chasing the game.
The second quarter saw further setbacks for the Indian juniors. Josie Lawton netted in the 24th minute, followed by Hunter Baldwin just four minutes later. With two quick goals, Canberra established a commanding 4-1 lead, exposing lapses in India’s defensive structure.
The pressure intensified in the third quarter when Amukawton converted a penalty corner in the 34th minute, extending the hosts’ lead to 5-1.
To their credit, the Indian juniors refused to fade away. The third quarter brought signs of resurgence, with Kanika Siwach finding the net via a penalty corner in the 42nd minute. Her strike gave India renewed belief and laid the platform for a late charge.
In the final quarter, India pressed harder and were rewarded. Sunelita Toppo (54’) and Ishika (57’) both converted penalty corners, reducing the deficit to just one goal. At 4-5, the game hung in the balance, and India looked poised to snatch a dramatic equaliser.
However, Canberra held their defensive lines firm in the closing minutes, surviving India’s late surge to secure victory in front of their home supporters.
Although the Indian Junior Women’s Team ended their tour with a defeat, the performance highlighted both their attacking depth and areas needing improvement. Across the match, four different players Sukhveer Kaur, Kanika Siwach, Sunelita Toppo, and Ishika found the scoresheet, underlining the team’s ability to generate goals from multiple options.
On the flip side, defensive organisation and first-quarter composure remain key aspects to address. Allowing five goals, including three field strikes in quick succession, left the side with too much ground to cover in the later stages.
The Australia Tour provided India’s juniors with crucial exposure against strong opposition, offering insights into their adaptability and mental resilience. While results did not always favour the team, the fightback against Canberra Chill in the closing stages demonstrated determination and character qualities essential for progression to the senior level.
With several standout individual performances and valuable match experience under their belt, the Indian juniors return home with lessons that will serve them in upcoming international assignments.
Final Scoreline
•Canberra Chill 5: Lauren Yee (12’, 19’), Josie Lawton (24’), Hunter Baldwin (28’), Amukawton (34’)
•India 4: Sukhveer Kaur (6’), Kanika Siwach (42’), Sunelita Toppo (54’), Ishika (57’)
The tour may have ended with a narrow defeat, but for the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team, the bigger victory lies in the experience gained and the hunger to convert close margins into wins in the future.
