Hockey: India U18 men end series with a 3-3 draw against Australia
Bhopal, May 20
The India U18 men's hockey team ended their four-match series against Australia with a 3-3 draw at the Udhav Das Mehta Central SAI Centre in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday.
The U18 men finished the series with one win, two draws, and one loss. India started the match strongly and scored two early goals, courtesy of Karan Gautam (10'), who converted a penalty corner in the 10th minute, followed by a field goal from Ben Siddharth (14').
However, Australia fought back and equalised in the second quarter. Jet Johnstone (18', 25') scored a crucial brace to bring Australia level by halftime.
After a closely fought third quarter, India regained the lead thanks to a field goal by captain Ketan Kushwaha (40'). India did their best to defend the advantage, but Australia found another equaliser late in the game as Andrew Faulds (57') scored a field goal with just three minutes remaining.
Earlier in the day, the India U18 Women's Hockey Team produced a dominant display to defeat the Australia U18 Women's Team 4-1 in the fourth and final match of the series.
On Monday, the Indian U18 men's team beat Australia 6-3 to level their series. The big win for the U18 men means their four-match series is now level at 1-1. India started the match well and took control in the first half. Akash Deep (10') opened the scoring in the first quarter, and Shahrukh Ali (14') added a second goal soon after.
In the second quarter, Ketan Kushwaha (25') and Romit Pal (26') scored quick goals to give India a strong lead. Kushwaha (40') scored his second goal of the match in the third quarter, and Ansh Bahutra (45') added the sixth goal for India.
Australia scored through Owen Taylor (23'), Oscar Freeman (29'), and Jack Weller (32'), but the Indian defence stood firm in the final quarter to protect the lead and secure the win.
— IANS
Reader Comments
So proud of our U18 girls too! Beating Australia 4-1 in the same series is a massive achievement. 👏 Our women's hockey is really making waves—hope they get more visibility and support from the federation. Also, good to see matches happening in Bhopal, spreading the game beyond metros.
Good result overall, but we need to work on closing out games. Letting Australia equalise late (57th minute) after taking the lead shows some defensive lapses. Still, for U18 level, this is promising. The academy system is producing talent—Karan Gautam and Ben Siddharth are names to watch.
Great to see India's junior teams competing hard against Australia. A 3-3 draw in a four-match series is decent, and the 6-3 win shows they can dominate when they click. Hockey Australia always produces tough opponents, so this bodes well for India's future at senior level.
Honestly, this is amazing! Our U18 boys and girls both doing well against a powerhouse like Australia. The 4-1 win by the women's team is especially heartening. But I hope Hockey India gives proper exposure to these young players—organise more such series and tournaments. Don't let them fade away like many promising talents in the past.
Ketan Kushwaha scoring in three different matches is something special! Captain leading from the front. Also, good to see goals coming from penalty corners and field play—shows we're improving our attacking variety. One suggestion: let's not get
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