Expansion
India’s junior women’s hockey team created history by defeating four-time champions South Korea 2-1. India has won the Junior Women’s Asia Cup title for the first time. Earlier, India’s best performance in the Women’s Junior Asia Cup was in 2012 when the team reached the final for the first time in Bangkok but lost 2-5 to China.
Prime Minister praised
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the team on this victory. He wrote in his tweet, “Congratulations to our young champions on winning the 2023 Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup. The team has shown immense tenacity, talent and teamwork. He has done our country very proud. Best wishes to him for his further endeavours.
Anu scored the first goal of the match
After a goalless first quarter, India took the lead in the 22nd minute through Anu’s penalty corner conversion. Putting behind the disappointment of the semi-final against Japan, Anu fired past the left of the goalkeeper to put India ahead 1-0.
Neelam’s goal proved decisive
However, South Korea made it 1-1 three minutes later thanks to a goal by Park Seo Yeon. Neelam put India ahead 2-1 in the 41st minute, which proved to be the decisive score, from the right side of the South Korean goalkeeper.
Tournament held after two years due to Corona
The Indian team’s defensive line helped them maintain the lead in the third quarter. After this, South Korea earned a lot of penalty corners in the last quarter but could not capitalize on them. This tournament was to be held in 2021 only but due to Corona it was played with a delay of two years.