The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team recorded a commanding 3-1 victory over Wales in its playoff at the 2025 FIH Junior Women’s World Cup at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional, Santiago, on Monday.
India began the game on the front foot, asserting itself on the opposition with a penalty corner in the first 30 seconds. It was playing between the lines to carve out opportunities on regular occasions, but couldn’t find the opening goal early on.
Wales had the opportunity to get its nose in front with a penalty stroke, but was denied by Nidhi as she made a sharp stop to keep the scores level.
India eventually broke the deadlock towards the end of the first quarter, courtesy a tap-in from Hina Bano (14’), after some neat work by Sakshi Rana.
India maintained pressure with another penalty corner at the start of the second quarter, and continuous chance-creation bore fruit when Sakshi Rana’s initial shot fell into the way of Sunelita Toppo (24’), who made no mistake from close range.
The gap widened when Ishika (31’) found the back of the net after a rebound from the Welsh goalkeeper fell her way.
Wales pulled a goal back when Eloise Moat made it count in the 52nd minute. But India held on to see the rest of the game out safely. India will play Uruguay next, in the crossovers, on December 9.
Hina Bano (14’), Sunelita Toppo (24’), and Ishika (31’) scored for India, while Eloise Moat (52’) netted the lone goal for Wales.
Published on Dec 08, 2025
