Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team Wraps Up Promising Europe Tour With A Narrow Shootout Loss To The Netherlands
The Indian junior women’s hockey team concluded their highly encouraging tour of Europe on a competitive note, falling short in a closely fought shootout against hosts Netherlands. The final match, held on Dutch soil, ended in a goalless draw during regulation time, with the Netherlands clinching a 3-2 win in the penalty shootout.
Even though we lost, the match was a powerful showcase of skill and resilience by the Indian side and was a fitting end to our tour, which saw them record four victories – three against Belgium and one against Australia – underlining their current form and tactical discipline ahead of the all-important FIH Women’s Junior World Cup in December.
A Tough Encounter Against the Dutch
The match against the Netherlands was always expected to be the hardest match of the tour, and it didn’t disappoint. Both teams played quality hockey throughout all four quarters, with speed, close marking and transitions being the order of the day. The Indians held their own against a technically superior Dutch team, displaying excellent composure under pressure and impressive defensive organisation.
Though both sides created promising chances, their finishing in the final third was thwarted by alert goalkeepers and tight defensive units. India’s backline, particularly Mahima Choudhary and Manju Chorsiya, stood tall against repeated Dutch attacks.
A Nerve-wracking Shootout
After the match was still tied at 0-0 after full time it was decided by a shootout. India had success with Lalrinpuii and Priyanka Yadav converted their shots and gave India a great start. The Netherlands completed conversions from Imme de Leeuw, Roos Alkemade, and Lotte Rust. The composure allowed the Netherlands to shoot better than India and it allowed the Dutch to win in front of their home crowd.
Despite the loss, the Indian team walked off the field with their heads held high, having matched one of the top junior hockey nations stride for stride throughout the match.
A Tour Full of Meaningful Change
This European tour formed a key part of the Indian team’s preparation plan for the Women’s Junior World Cup. The team played with competitive consistency and really grew as players in terms of exposure to new styles, playing high-tempo games, and dealing with the pressures of level of play known internationally.
Head coach Harvinder Singh appreciated the girls for their effort and the learning they experienced over the past couple of weeks. ” I think the girls showed maturity and adaptability throughout the tour. Playing against some of the best teams – Belgium, Australia and Holland provided the girls confidence and experience’s with the intricacies of international-level hockey.”
India’s previous successes on tour — a 4-2, 2-1 and 3-0 dismissal of Belgium, and a scrappy 2-1 win over Australia — demonstrated their ability to attack and finish close games. The young forwards – Annu, Deepika Soreng and Sunelita Toppo – showed their agility and ability to finish as well as scoring on opportunities. Goalkeeper Khushboo pushed the team to recharge and called upon to maintain clean sheets and fend off shots from opponents.
Eyeing the Future
As they come back home, the focus now switches to the last leg of preparations for the Junior World Cup. The experiences they gained in Europe are expected to provide a bedrock in developing their plans and enhancing team morale. With a combination of players, tactical and ambition, the Indian junior women’s team has declared their readiness for a serious go on the world stage later in the year.
The tour ended with one point, not a lost. Instead, it was a thrilling showcase of expansion, their connectedness, and another signal of the emergence of Indian women’s hockey in the world.
