Kakamigahara [Japan], June 5 (ANI): After an intense and well-fought 2-2 draw over 4 quarters, the Indian U18 Women’s Hockey Team suffered a 1-3 defeat in a shootout towards China of their semi-final conflict on the U18 Asia Cup 2026 in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday.
Nousheen Naz (3′) and Kiran Ekka (54′) scored the objectives for India, whereas Li ZeYan (24′) and Zhang Yuzheng (48′) have been the aim scorers for China.
India made a vibrant begin within the first quarter, securing the opening aim within the third minute itself. Captain Sweety Kujur performed an excellent cross from the midfield to Nousheen (3′) contained in the circle, who delivered a powerful back-handed shot into the web to offer India an early lead. Both sides did properly within the midfield to create good alternatives contained in the circle however could not discover one other aim within the opening quarter, in response to a press launch.
China have been awarded a penalty nook within the twenty first minute, however Feng Jiaxin’s dragflick was fantastically saved by Indian goalkeeper Mahak Parihar. Three minutes later, nonetheless, China discovered the equaliser resulting from a defensive error by India within the twenty fourth minute, which China’s Li ZeYan capitalised on to degree the sport with a area aim. In the third quarter, China have been awarded a penalty nook within the thirty fourth minute, however the Indian backline confirmed nice resilience to disclaim them the chance to take the lead. China held extra of the possession within the following minutes however could not break the impasse. In the forty third minute, India obtained consecutive penalty corners, however couldn’t breach the Chinese put up. Despite a number of possibilities at each ends, the match remained tied at 1-1 because the groups entered the fourth quarter. The third minute of the ultimate quarter noticed China go forward via a penalty nook. Although the preliminary shot was blocked by India’s first rusher, the ball went to China’s Zhang Yuzheng (48′) on the rebound, and he or she delivered a relaxed end to offer her facet a slim benefit. However, China’s lead solely lasted for a couple of minutes as India’s Kiran (54′) transformed a penalty nook to equalise and it remained 2-2 at full-time, with a shootout to determine the winner. China defeated India 3-1 within the shootout courtesy of some sensible saves by their goalkeeper Liu Xue. Lu Tong Tong, Ge Chen and Guo Jiaxin transformed their possibilities within the shootout for China, whereas Sandeepa Kumari was the one participant for India to attain within the shootout.
The second girls’s semi-final can be performed between Japan and Korea. India will tackle the loser of that match for the bronze medal on June 6, 2026, at 9:30 am IST. (ANI)