The Indian junior women’s hockey team continued their winning momentum in the Four Nations Tournament with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Uruguay in their second match on Monday.
Spearheading the charge was forward Kanika Siwach, whose clinical brace in the second half turned the tide in India’s favour after a closely contested opening three quarters.
After edging past Chile 2-1 in their tournament opener, India faced a spirited Uruguayan side that took the early initiative. Milagros Seigal gave Uruguay a dream start, converting a penalty corner in just the 3rd minute to stun the Indian defence and hand her team the lead.
India responded in the second quarter, as Sonam capitalised on a penalty corner in the 21st minute to bring the scores level. However, the parity was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Agustina Mari put Uruguay back in front, again through a well-executed penalty corner, showcasing the South American side’s proficiency on set-pieces.
Trailing 2-1 at the halfway stage, the Indian team showcased resilience and tactical discipline in the third quarter to keep the scoreline unchanged, setting up a tense final period.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter, and it was Kanika Siwach who rose to the occasion. In the 46th minute, she found the net from a penalty corner to draw India level at 2-2. Four minutes later, Siwach struck again, this time from open play, to give India a crucial 3-2 lead. Her brace not only highlighted her attacking prowess but also underlined India’s composure under pressure.
India held firm in the final minutes to deny Uruguay any comeback opportunity, sealing their second consecutive win in the tournament.
The Four Nations Tournament, hosted in Rosario between May 25 and June 2, features India, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, all using the competition as part of their build-up to the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup scheduled for December 2025.
India will next face hosts Argentina on Wednesday, a fixture expected to be their toughest challenge yet in the tournament.
Match Summary:
- India 3 (Sonam 21’, Kanika Siwach 46’, 50’)
- Uruguay 2 (Milagros Seigal 3’, Agustina Mari 24’)
Upcoming Fixture:
- India vs Argentina – Wednesday, May 28 (IST)
With two wins in two, the Indian junior women’s team has made a confident start to their World Cup preparations, and eyes will now turn to how they fare against the hosts.
