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Indian Women’s U18 Hockey Team Ends Campaign with Convincing Victory
The Indian women’s hockey team secured the bronze medal at the U18 Asia Cup after a commanding 3-0 victory against Korea in the third-place playoff. The young Indian side bounced back strongly from a heartbreaking semifinal defeat to finish the tournament on a high note.
The Indian women’s hockey team delivered an impressive performance to claim the bronze medal at the Women’s U18 Asia Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over South Korea in the third-place match on Saturday.
Determined to recover from their narrow semifinal loss to China, which ended in a heartbreaking shootout defeat, the Indian team started aggressively and took control of the contest from the opening minutes. Their intent paid off almost immediately when Sandeepa Kumari found the back of the net in the second minute to hand India an early lead.
India continued to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities. Captain Sweety Kujur doubled the advantage in the 16th minute, giving her side a comfortable cushion heading into the latter stages of the match. The Indian defence remained disciplined throughout, denying Korea any meaningful chances to stage a comeback.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 33rd minute when Nousheen Naz scored India’s third goal of the match. The strike capped a clinical team performance and ensured a well-deserved podium finish for the young Indian squad.
The bronze medal reflects India’s strong showing throughout the tournament and highlights the growing depth of talent in the country’s women’s hockey development pathway. Although the team narrowly missed out on a place in the final, the players demonstrated resilience and character by ending their campaign with a convincing victory.
The achievement is expected to provide a significant boost to India’s future hockey prospects as several members of the U18 squad continue their progression toward senior international competition.
