Indian women’s hockey team suffers 3-2 defeat against Australia

The Indian women’s hockey team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Australia in its FIH Pro League 2024-25 match at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, England, on Saturday.

After going three goals down, India fought back through goals from Deepika (44') and Neha (52'), but the Australians held their nerve in a tense final quarter to secure the win.

Courtney Schonell (16'), Lexie Pickering (27') and Tatum Stewart (35') registered goals for Australia.

The match also marked a personal milestone for midfielder Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, who completed her 50th appearance for India.

The loss pushed world No. 9 India to seventh place on the FIH Pro League points table.

There was little to separate the two sides in the opening quarter, with both teams showing intent and valuing possession.

India adopted a patient approach but were quick to apply pressure on the Australian defence.

Australia earned a penalty corner in the 10th minute, but India held firm to deny them. India’s best chance came late in the quarter, when a swift attacking move forced Australian goalkeeper Zoe Newman into a sharp double save.

A minute into the second quarter, Courtney Schonell was at the end of a sharp pass from Grace Stewart. Schonell finished it with precision to give Australia the lead.

In the 27th minute, a turnover from Navneet led to scrappy moments of play and a series of Australian shots on goal.

Savita’s reflexes held up against two consecutive shots, but on the second rebound, Lexi Pickering slotted it past the Indian goalkeeper to double Australia’s lead.

India were unable to create many chances before proceedings broke for half-time.

Following the restart, Australia earned another penalty corner as their relentless pressure tested the Indian defence. The initial attempt was defended by Sunelita Toppo. However, the sequence led to another penalty corner, which evolved into a penalty stroke.

Tatum Stewart stepped up and drilled it past goalkeeper Bichu Devi, extending Australia’s lead to 3-0.

India found respite when they won a penalty corner with 68 seconds left in the quarter. Deepika was at the end of a crisp injection and flicked it in with precision to reduce the deficit to 1-3.

India came out with all guns blazing in the fourth quarter. The Indian attack won three consecutive penalty corners in the 46th minute, but the scores remained unchanged.

Australia buckled in the 52nd minute when they conceded another penalty scorer. Deepika’s low-driven shot was well defended, but Neha pounced on the loose ball in the ensuing chaos and buried it with finesse from close range to make it 2-3.

India threatened with a series of quick moves after that, but the equaliser eluded them. In the dying embers of the match, silky stick work from Navneet helped her glide into the circle before she was brought down for another penalty corner.

However, Australia defended the set piece in numbers to secure the victory.

India will face Australia again in their next FIH Pro League 2024-25 match on Sunday.

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