India’s junior women’s hockey team has punched its ticket to the
The victory sets up a high-stakes title match for the Indian side, who will now await the result of the second semifinal between hosts China and Japan. Saturday’s performance underscored India’s status as tournament favourites, as they maintained control for the majority of the contest.
Clinical Finishing and Tactical Dominance
The match began with a cagey opening as both teams navigated the high-pressure environment of a knockout fixture. India eventually found their rhythm, breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute when Madhu Sidar converted a well-constructed attacking move to open the scoring. The momentum shifted firmly in India's favour during the second quarter as they began to dominate territory and possession.
Supriya’s influence on the game became apparent in the 17th minute when she converted a penalty corner with a precise drag-flick to double the lead. The Indian attack remained relentless, and by the 21st minute, the advantage grew to 3-0. A perfectly placed aerial ball into the Korean 23-metre area allowed an Indian winger to deliver a cross into the circle, where Sukhveer Kaur applied the finishing touch.
Securing the Path to the Summit Clash
Holding a comfortable three-goal cushion at half-time, India maintained their intensity after the break. Supriya struck again in the 33rd minute, once more capitalising on a penalty corner to extend the lead to 4-0. While South Korea managed to pull one back in the 41st minute through a set-piece conversion by Yuri Jeong, the Indian defence remained disciplined to prevent any further momentum for their opponents.
India continued to play with purpose in the final quarter, ensuring the result remained beyond doubt. In the 56th minute, Supriya capped off her standout performance by converting another penalty corner, completing her hat-trick and finalising the 5-1 scoreline. The win confirms India's place in the final, where they will look to defend their title against either China or Japan.
