Muscat, India’s goalkeeper Nidhi stole the limelight within the penalty shootout, making three sensational saves to assist India overcome three-time champions China 3-2 and clinch their second consecutive Girls’s Junior Asia Cup hockey title right here on Sunday.
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Nidhi’s heroics capped off a stellar efficiency, having already stood tall throughout regulation time by thwarting a number of makes an attempt from the Chinese language forwards because the 4 quarters resulted in a nerve-wracking 1-1 stalemate.
Whereas skipper Jinzhuang Tan scored for China within the thirtieth minute, Siwach Kanika’s strike early within the second half introduced India again into the sport in an intense battle for supremacy.
Sakshi Rana gave India an ideal begin within the shootout by changing the primary try, whereas Nidhi denied China’s opener.
China fought again as Hao Guoting equalised, and after misses from Mumtaz Khan and Kanika Siwach, it was Ishika’s top-corner strike that stored India degree at 2-2.
Nidhi’s heroics within the remaining two makes an attempt, blocking photographs from Li Jingyi and Zuo Dandan, set the stage for Sunelita Toppo, who sealed the win with a composed end to seal a memorable victory for India.
The sport started with China taking early management, urgent arduous towards the Indian protection within the opening minutes.
Nidhi made back-to-back saves within the second quarter to maintain the scores degree after 25 minutes.
Regardless of India’s dominance in possession, their lack of ability to capitalise on penalty corners lacking two golden probabilities within the first quarter proved expensive.
China struck first in dramatic trend proper earlier than half-time.
A penalty stroke was awarded to the Chinese language facet, they usually transformed clinically to provide them a big edge going into the break.
India started the second-half with renewed vigour and a way of urgency as they dominated proceedings within the third quarter and had been lastly rewarded within the forty first minute.
A penalty nook alternative noticed the ball rebound to an Indian attacker, who slotted it house to degree the rating at 1-1.
The objective reignited India’s hopes and set the stage for a dramatic remaining quarter.
It was a tense affair, with each India and China pushing for the winner however failing to attain the decisive objective.
India had an early alternative within the forty eighth minute by way of a penalty nook however did not execute successfully, persevering with their struggles with set items.
Equally, China squandered their probabilities, with poor penalty nook conversions leaving them visibly annoyed.
The Indian goalkeeper as soon as once more emerged because the standout performer.
Within the 56th minute, she thwarted a robust Chinese language try elevating her left hand, denying them a late winner because the match went into the shootout.