Indian women's hockey team stage solid comeback to level series against Argentina
Buenos Aires, April 18
The Indian Women's Hockey Team showed immense grit to finish their four-match tour of Argentina with a 2-2 draw. After a difficult start to the series, the Indian side fought back brilliantly, winning their final two matches to finish the tour on a high, according to a release.
The tour began with a competitive opening match on April 13, where Navneet Kaur (22') and Annu (29') found the net for India. While Argentina eventually won 4-2, with Maria Emilia Larsen (11'), Victoria Granato (18'), and Julieta Jankunas (42', 55') among the scorers, India showed strong attacking intent throughout.
In the second match, played on April 14, Ishika (22') gave India an early lead before the hosts secured a narrow 2-1 win behind a brace from Agustina Gorzelany (34', 48').
India found their rhythm in the third match on April 16, securing a 2-1 victory to stay alive in the series. Navneet Kaur (26') and Neha (37') both scored from penalty corners to give India a comfortable 2-0 lead. Despite a late goal from Argentina's Agustina Gorzelany (52'), the Indian side stayed composed to secure the win and set up the final day drama.
On April 17, the series finale was a hard-fought encounter that ended 0-0 in regulation time. Both teams had chances to score, but the Indian defenders stood tall to keep a clean sheet throughout the match. In the shootout, India held their nerve to win 3-2 and ensure the series ended level.
The team will now return home to continue their training camp and build on these positive results. This tour has been a vital part of their preparation, providing the squad with important experience against a top-tier opponent on away soil.
Reflecting on the tour, stand-in captain Navneet Kaur expressed pride in the team and praised their heart and character for posting a fightback.
"I am incredibly proud of how the team responded after the first two matches. It isn't easy to trail 0-2 against a world-class team like Argentina, but we showed the heart and character needed to fight back. These back-to-back wins prove that we are moving in the right direction and can handle pressure on the big stage," she said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great result, but we need to be consistent from the start. The first two matches showed defensive lapses. The comeback is commendable, but to win major tournaments, we must start strong. Still, kudos to the team for the heart they showed!
The penalty corner conversions were clinical! Navneet and Neha were brilliant. This tour experience is gold before bigger events. Hope the federation provides them with more such high-quality exposure. Jai Hind!
Winning the shootout in the final match under pressure... wah! That's mental strength. Our women's hockey is on the rise again. Let's give them the same support and coverage as the men's team.
As a hockey fan, this is impressive. Argentina is always tough at home. For India to level the series shows great tactical adaptability and team spirit. Well done!
The defence in the final match keeping a clean sheet was the key. Brilliant! This team has character. More power to our women athletes. 👏
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