Goalkeeper Nidhi was the hero as India edged China 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out to clinch the Women’s Junior Asia Cup trophy at the Hockey Oman Stadium in the Wilayat of Al Amerat on Sunday. At regulation time, both teams were locked at 1-1. Indian keeper Nidhi saved the first, third, and fifth attempts from China in the shoot-out to secure the title for India. Chinese goalkeeper Mengyao Zhang denied India’s second and fourth penalty attempts to keep her team in the game. However, Sunelita Toppo netted the winning penalty as the Indian players, who enjoyed strong crowd support in Muscat, celebrated their triumph. In the final, China took the lead through a penalty stroke converted by Jinzhuang Tan right at the stroke of half-time. India started with good attacking moves but could not penetrate the defence of Chinese goalkeeper Mengyao Zhang. India earned a penalty corner in the first quarter, while China earned two in the second quarter, one of which led to the penalty stroke that gave no chance to Indian goalkeeper Nidhi. After the break, the Indian team started the match with more purpose, and their wait for an equaliser ended in the 41st minute when Kanika Siwach found the target with a brilliant field goal. India also had two penalty corners that threatened the Chinese defence in the third quarter. The fourth and final quarter saw an intense contest as both teams tried hard for a winner. China earned two penalty corners, while India earned one in the quarter, but none could make the breakthrough as the match ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to the penalty shoot-out.
South Korea finish third
South Korea claimed third place after a thrilling penalty shoot-out win against Japan. At regulation time, the teams were tied 1-1. South Korea scored first, with Hyeonjeong Park striking in the 21st minute. Japan equalised with Haruka Kawaguchi’s field goal in the 29th minute. Japan earned the match’s only two penalty corners but could not take advantage of them in the second quarter and the last quarter. In the penalty shoot-out, the South Korean goalkeeper was the hero as she thwarted Japan’s Minami Ohtsuka’s final attempt, enabling the Koreans to prevail 3-2. Both teams had six penalty attempts each.
Placement matches
In the other placement matches, Malaysia finished fifth after thrashing Thailand 6-0, and Chinese Taipei claimed seventh spot with a 6-1 win against Hong Kong.
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