Hockey Junior World Cup: Indian women’s team misses quarterfinals despite two emphatic wins
The Indian U-21 women’s team put on a strong display early Friday in Chile, winning their third group-stage match against Ireland and moving to six points from three games. Yet, when the group stage concluded on Saturday, India failed to reach the quarterfinals under the tournament’s new format, snatching away the chance to push further into the knockout rounds.
Against Ireland, India set the tempo from the first whistle, initiating nine circle penetrations in the opening quarter and striking in the 12th minute when Kanika Siwach converted after sustained pressing. Ireland struggled to create penalty corners and managed just a single circle entry, relying on a solid defensive wall to blunt India’s advantage.
In the second quarter, India maintained control with three consecutive penalty corners and seven additional circle entries, though the lead stayed intact. After halftime, India intensified its dominance: nine more circle penetrations and a goal from a penalty corner finished by Purnima Yadav in the 42nd minute. The final quarter saw India seal the result with two late strikes: Sakshi Rana scored a superb solo goal in the 57th minute to make it 3–0, followed by Yadav’s second goal moments later to cap a 4–0 victory. India ended the match with 30 circle entries and eight penalty corners, while Ireland managed 11 entries and no set plays, reflecting a game controlled by India from start to finish.
Despite the win, India’s six points and a goal difference of +15 weren’t enough because a defeat to Germany earlier in the tournament had hurt their chances. Although India enjoyed two substantive victories, other groups saw three-match leaders reach seven points, and the revised format allowed only six pool winners automatic entry to the quarterfinals, with the remaining two spots reserved for the best second-placed teams.
In Pool A, Belgium and Argentina both finished with seven points—two wins and a draw each. The day also carried a historic moment: Belgium crushed Zimbabwe 21–0, the tournament’s largest margin ever. Agathe Favart led Belgium with four goals, while Alexi Van Remortel, Chloé Delhalle, and Emilie Verhees each netted a hat-trick. Argentina dominated their final pool match with an 8–0 victory in rainy conditions at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped.
In Pool D, China and England also finished on seven points. China continues to prove itself as the leading Asian side in women’s hockey, translating strength from the senior level to the U21 team. For India, the ideal outcome would have been a China loss or draw against South Africa; instead, China began strongly with six circle entries and three penalty corners in the first quarter, converting to a 4–0 win. England also delivered a commanding 7–0 win over Austria in the same group.
Jyoti Singh’s squad will now face Wales in the classification rounds for positions 9–16 in the tournament.
Fixtures (local Chile time):
- Sunday, 7 December: Classification 9–16 – Uruguay vs South Africa (09:00); Classification 9–16 – Japan vs Korea (11:15); Classification 17–24 – New Zealand vs Austria (13:30); Classification 9–16 – Spain vs Ireland (15:45); Classification 17–24 – Chile vs Zimbabwe (18:00); Classification 9–16 – India vs Wales (20:15)
- Monday, 8 December: Classification 17–24 – Canada vs Malaysia (09:00); Classification 17–24 – Scotland vs Namibia (11:15)
- Quarter-finals: QF1 – Netherlands vs England (13:30); QF2 – United States vs Belgium (15:45); QF3 – Australia vs China (18:00); QF4 – Germany vs Argentina (20:15)
(FIH inputs)
Would you like this rewritten version to adopt a more formal sports journalism style or a more narrative, feature-length approach? Also, should additional context on the new tournament format be woven in as background for readers unfamiliar with recent changes?
