India's junior women's hockey team concluded their Pool C campaign at the FIH Junior Women's World Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ireland on Friday, December 6, 2025. However, the win at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional in Santiago was bittersweet, as the team's chances of advancing to the quarterfinals remain bleak despite securing two wins in three group matches.
Dominant Performance Overshadowed by Qualification Anxiety
The Indian team displayed strong attacking intent from the outset, earning a Penalty Corner within the first 12 seconds of the match. Although they couldn't convert early chances, the pressure paid off in the 12th minute. Sakshi Rana provided a perfect pass to Kanika Siwach, who calmly rounded the Irish goalkeeper to slot the ball into an open net, giving India a 1-0 lead.
Despite the early advantage, India struggled to find cohesion in their attacking moves for much of the game. The second goal came only in the 42nd minute when Purnima Yadav deflected a ball into the net after good work from Sakshi Shukla following a mistrapped Penalty Corner.
Sakshi Rana's Moment of Brilliance
The standout moment of the match arrived in the 57th minute, courtesy of Sakshi Rana. The player, who has already made her senior debut after an impressive Hockey India League season, showcased exceptional individual skill. She lifted the ball on the left channel, dribbled into the circle, cut in, and unleashed a fine low strike to score.
Significantly, the reaction to this brilliant goal was muted. With the score at 3-0, there was barely a hint of celebration from the Indian players. This somber response highlighted the team's awareness that the result might not be enough for progression.
A Tense Wait for Quarterfinal Fate
India added a fourth goal a minute later, with Purnima Yadav scoring her second by deftly deflecting the ball over the goalkeeper. The team also had to thank defender Nandini for a crucial stick block in the final quarter to deny Ireland's Eabha Curran and preserve the clean sheet.
With the group stage winding down, India must now wait to see if they can qualify as one of the two best second-placed teams. The team's destiny is out of their hands, and the scenario appears unlikely. They finished their part of the equation with a comprehensive win, but their tournament future hangs in the balance, dependent on results from other pools.
The final scorers for India were Purnima Yadav (42', 58'), Kanika Siwach (12'), and Sakshi Rana (57').
