Kakamigahara: India beat Japan 1-0 to advance to the final of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey Series. By advancing to the finals, the Indian team qualified for the Junior World Cup series later this year.
Team India faced Japan in the semi-final match of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey Series held in Kagamigahara, Japan yesterday. Both teams remained scoreless in three quarters of the game. Both teams had 12 penalty corner chances each but failed to capitalize on them. In the 39th minute, India got a penalty stroke opportunity. Indian player Annu missed this opportunity to score an easy goal.
In the final part, the players of the Indian team performed with vigor. In the 47th minute, Sunelita Tappo scored a field goal. Due to this, the Indian team took a 1-0 lead. In the 58th minute, Japan got a penalty corner opportunity. But the Indian team’s goalkeeper Madhuri prevented the Japanese team’s attempt to score with his great performance.
In the end, the Indian team won 1-0 and advanced to the final. This is the 2nd time that the Indian team has reached the finals of the Junior Asia Cup series. Before this, they had played in the final in 2012. In the final match today, the Indian team will play a multi-test against South Korea. South Korea beat China 2-0 in their semi-final match.
By advancing to the finals of the Junior Asia Cup series, the Indian women’s team has qualified for the Junior World Cup to be held in Santiago, Chile from November 29 to December 10.
