AHF: Goalkeeper Madhuri Kindo stars as India beat New Zealand in a classification match of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023

06 December, 2023

Lausanne, Switzerland: The teams that missed out on a spot in the Top 8 of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 got another chance on Thursday to showcase their potential in the 9th-16th place qualification match. 

While India and Korea got hard-earned victories, the USA and Chile overcame their respective opponents with ease to advance into the next rounds. 

Let’s take a round-up of the four matches as it happened in Chile!

India vs New Zealand [Full-Time Score: 3 – 3 (Shootout Score: 3-2)]

It was an absolute neck-to-neck contest between the two teams as both were not ready to let go of the match. While India’s Ropni Kumari opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, Isabella Story equalized it within three minutes. The story was similar till the 60th minute when the match got tied at 3-3. 

It was then for the first penalty shootout of the tournament and what a thriller it turned out to be. While New Zealand converted the first two and India missed the first two, it was the heroics of India’s goalkeeper Madhuri Kindo, who effected four shootout saves and helped India stage a spirited comeback to win the match. 

India’s midfield maestro Jyoti Chhatri who won the Player of the Match award said, “We are extremely proud of the comeback we did. Even after being down by two goals in the shootout, we didn’t give up and won the game from there. Hats off to our goalkeeper Madhuri for her star-studded performance”. 

USA vs Canada (Full-Time Score: 8-0)

There was no match-up for USA in their classification match, as they blanked Canada by 8-0 goals. Daniela Mendez-Trendler opened the scoring followed by goals from Charlotte Bruder (38’), Lucy Adams (41’), Hope Rose (42’ and 43’), Katie Dixon (57’), Abigail Tamer (59’), Lauren Wadas (60’). 

USA earned 11 penalty corners while converting only two of those. They will now face hosts Chile on 7th December for the 9th–12th place classification match. 

“We just wanted to come back stronger as a team. Even after not qualifying for the quarterfinals, we want to finish at the best we can,” said Player of the Match Ryleigh Heck. 

Korea vs South Africa [Full-Time Score: 1-1 (Shootout Score: 3-2)]

Just like the India vs New Zealand match, this one was also a nail-biter. While Korea was extremely good in the league stages as well, South Africa showed some intent as they held on to Korea for the sixty minutes. 

Seoyeon Lee (12’) and Reabetswe Phume (30’) scored the goals for Korea and South Africa respectively. 

“It was a very hard game but glad that we were able to win it. Our focus would be on the next game and finish the tournament on a high,” said Seoyeon Lee

Chile vs Zimbabwe (Full-Time Score: 2-0)

The hosts lightened up the stadium in Chile with their brilliant display of hockey as they beat Zimbabwe 2-0.

Constanza Munoz and Martina Gago scored the two goals for Chile, both of penalty corners. 

They will next face USA in the 9th-12th place classification match.

To see the schedule of the upcoming matches, click here.

FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup Chile 2023 – 05 December 2023

Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional

Result: Classification Match 1

India 3-3 New Zealand (Shootout Score: 3-2) 

Player of the Match: Jyoti Chhatri (IND)

Umpires: Junko Wagatsuma (JPN) and Minami Inamoto (JPN)

Result: Classification Match 2

USA 8-0 Canada 

Player of the Match: Ryleigh Heck (USA)

Umpires: Melissa Taylor (RSA) and Jianjun Chen (CHN) 

Result: Classification Match 3

Korea 1-1 South Africa (Shootout Score: 3-2)

Player of the Match: Lee Seoyeon (KOR)

Umpires: Kristy Robertson (AUS) and Veronica Villafane (ARG)

Result: Classification Match 4

Chile 2-0 Zimbabwe

Player of the Match: Constanza Munoz (CHI)

Umpires: Sandra Adell (ESP) and Magali Sergeant (BEL)

Source: fih.hockey