India Cruise Past Ireland 4-0 In Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup

Last Updated:December 05, 2025, 20:46 IST

Purnima Yadav led India to a 4-0 win against Ireland at the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup in Santiago, with goals from Kanika Siwach and Sakshi Rana.

Indian junior women's hockey team beat Ireland 4-0 (Picture credit: Hockey India)

Star forward Purnima Yadav led India to a commanding 4-0 win against Ireland in their final Pool C game at the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup on Friday.

Purnima (42′, 58′), Kanika Siwach (12′), and Sakshi Rana (57′) scored the goals for India at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional in Santiago.

India started brightly in the first quarter, showing great attacking intent and winning an early penalty corner within the first 12 seconds of the match, although their attempt did not reach the goal post.

India maintained pressure, earning their second penalty corner in the 10th minute, but the chance was squandered again.

Two minutes later, Sakshi played a perfect pass to Kanika inside the circle, who manoeuvred around the charging Irish goalkeeper and slotted the ball into an open net, breaking the deadlock.

India built on their dominant form, winning two consecutive penalty corners in the 17th and 23rd minutes, but Ireland’s goalkeeper Lucy McGoldrick made two strong saves to protect her goal.

Ireland’s first attempt at a goal came in the 24th minute, which was met by a save from the Indian goalkeeper.

Towards the end of the second quarter, India won their fifth PC in the 28th minute but could not capitalise on the chance, ending the first half with a one-goal lead.

In the third quarter, India held the ball more and stretched the Irish defence, controlling the game’s tempo.

In the 40th minute, India’s Manisha played an incisive pass to Sukhveer Kaur, but her shot went just over the post.

Moments later, in the 42nd minute, India won another penalty corner, which was perfectly converted as Sakshi Shukla played a strong pass to Purnima Yadav in front of the goal, deflecting the ball into the net to extend India’s lead.

In the fourth quarter, Ireland fought back as Eabha Curran was through on goal and took a shot towards the bottom right corner, but her attempt was stopped by a perfectly timed block by Nandini.

In the 57th and 58th minutes, India scored back-to-back goals to further increase their lead. First, Sakshi showcased incredible skills from the left flank, going past the defenders and taking a powerful shot, beating the goalkeeper and finding the bottom corner of the goal post.

This was followed by Purnima’s second goal of the game, as she deflected the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net, registering India’s fourth and final goal of the game.

(With PTI Inputs)

News sports hockey India Cruise Past Ireland 4-0 In Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup

Read More