The Indian women’s junior hockey team successfully defended its Women’s Junior Asia Cup title, overcoming China 3-2 in a nail-biting penalty shootout after the teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Goalkeeper Nidhi emerged as the hero of the match, making three crucial saves during the shootout to secure India’s second consecutive championship victory in the tournament.

China’s Jinzhuang Tan opened the scoring with a penalty stroke in the 30th minute, giving her team a slender lead at halftime. However, India retaliated in the third quarter, with Kanika Siwach netting a stunning field goal in the 41st minute, assisted by Sunelita Toppo and Deepika. Despite intense efforts from both teams in the fourth quarter, neither could find a winner, pushing the match into a dramatic penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Indian players Sakshi Rana, Ishika, and Sunelita Toppo converted their chances, while goalkeeper Nidhi delivered an exceptional performance, denying Lihang Wang, Jingyi Li, and Dandan Zuo to secure the title for India.

Expressing their pride, Hockey India announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for each player and ₹1 lakh for each member of the support staff, acknowledging their remarkable effort and teamwork.

The match began with both teams testing each other’s defenses in the first quarter, but neither managed to break the deadlock. The second quarter saw India dominating possession, though it was China who capitalized on a penalty stroke just before halftime.

In the third quarter, India stepped up its aggression, with Deepika’s drag flick testing the Chinese goalkeeper before Kanika Siwach’s equalizer rejuvenated the Indian camp. The fourth quarter witnessed end-to-end action, with both sides missing critical penalty corners, ultimately leading to the decisive shootout.

This victory not only highlights India’s growing dominance in junior hockey but also sets a strong foundation for the future of women’s hockey in the country.