FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023: In the ongoing 9th–12th place qualification match of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Santiago, Chile, on Friday, the Indian junior women’s hockey team defeated Korea 3–1. To defeat Korea 3-1 the Jiyun Choi (19′) goal was the only one scored by Korea, while Ropni Kumari (23′), Mumtaz Khan (44′), and Annu (46′) scored goals for India. To take the early lead, both teams put forth a lot of effort in the first quarter. Korea won the first penalty corner and controlled possession, but they were unable to take advantage of it. India ended the quarter with a goalless draw after opting for counterattacks to keep Korea’s defenders busy but failing to convert their promising entries.
India and Korea continued to attack in the second quarter, keeping up the intensity from the first. Jiyun Choi of Korea (19′) broke the tie with a brilliant penalty corner strike, but Ropni Kumari (23′) of India swiftly responded with an equalising penalty corner. Korea stepped up their offensive to take the lead again. India’s formidable defence repelled Korea’s attacks in spite of their greatest efforts, and they counterattacked with skill, applying pressure to Korea’s defensive line. But there were no more goals in the second quarter, and the teams were level at one goal at halftime.
India controlled the game in the third quarter by keeping possession of the ball and persistently posing a threat to Korea’s defence. Mumtaz Khan (44′) successfully tucked the ball home on a penalty corner to give her team a well-earned lead. India prevailed 2-1 in the final quarter. After taking the lead, India ramped up their attacks and increased their lead early in the game’s fourth and final quarter. Annu (46′) made a fantastic field goal to give her team a two-goal advantage. Even though they were ahead, India kept upping the pressure on Korea’s defence, keeping up their momentum and stifling any possibility of a comeback as they won 3-1.
With the win, India—who had previously conceded the title after placing third in Pool C—will have an opportunity to place ninth overall when they play Chile or the United States in the competition’s final match on Sunday.
