Bhopal, May 18: India’s U-18 men’s hockey team secured a 6-3 victory against Australia on Monday, leveling the series at 1-1. Meanwhile, the U-18 women’s team suffered a 1-2 defeat, marking their third consecutive loss. Both teams will face off again on Wednesday at the same venue.
In the match held at the Uddhav Das Mehta Central Sports Authority of India Centre in Bhopal, India started strong, dominating the first half.
Akash Deep scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, followed by Shahrukh Ali’s goal just four minutes later. In the second quarter, Ketan Kushwaha (25’) and Romit Pal (26’) quickly added two more goals, giving India a solid lead. Kushwaha scored again in the third quarter (40’), and Ansh Bahutara netted the sixth goal for India (45’).
Australia responded with goals from Owen Taylor (23’), Oscar Freeman (29’), and Jack Weller (32’), but the Indian defense held firm in the final quarter to secure the win.
Earlier, both Indian teams faced defeats in their second matches against Australia. The men lost 1-3, giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, while the first match ended in a 2-2 draw.
In the women’s match, India fought hard but lost their third game of the series. Australia took an early lead with a goal from Annelies Cullen in the 5th minute. India equalized just before the end of the first quarter with a brilliant goal from Sandipa Kumari in the 15th minute.
However, Australia regained the lead early in the second quarter with a goal from Stella Bartholomew (17’). The Indian defense managed to prevent further goals in the second half, but the home team could not find the equalizer.
On Friday, the Indian women’s team lost 3-4 to Australia, followed by a 1-4 defeat on Sunday.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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