On Monday, the Indian junior women’s hockey team defeated Malaysia 2-1 in the second game of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
After Malaysia’s Dian Nazeri (6′) scored, Mumtaz Khan (10′) and Deepika (26′) each scored to help India win the game and maintain their lead in Pool A. While Malaysia concentrated on maintaining possession, India went on the offensive from the start, earning a couple of penalty corners but failing to capitalize on them.
Malaysia switched to counter-attacking a few minutes into the game, and it immediately paid off when Dian Nazeri (6′), who was standing unmarked in the D, scored a field goal to put her team ahead. However, India came back into the game a few minutes later when Mumtaz Khan (10′) equalized through a penalty corner as the first quarter ended with the score tied at 1-1.
Desperate to take a lead, India came out all guns blazing in the second quarter and the plan worked as Deepika (26′) won a penalty stroke and easily converted it to put her team in front. Notably, the Indian team kept on attacking in their bid to extend the lead but the second quarter didn’t see any more goals as India went into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead.
The third quarter began in the same manner as the second, with India continuing to dominate the game by maintaining ball possession and rigorously troubling Malaysia’s defense. However, neither India nor Malaysia were able to score in the third quarter, and the game ended goalless, with India leading 2-1.