Perth: The Indian women’s hockey team wrapped up their Australia tour in style, defeating the host nation 1-0 in a hard-fought final match at the Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
The victory marked India’s only win of the tour, offering a morale boost after a series of narrow losses.
Vice-captain Navneet Kaur emerged as the match-winner, scoring a decisive field goal in the 21st minute, showcasing her clinical finishing under pressure.
The goal proved enough to separate the two sides in an intense and closely-contested game.
India had previously faced a tough outing, suffering defeats against both the Australia ‘A’ side (3-5, 2-3) and the senior national team (0-2 on May 1 and 2-3 on May 3).
However, the team bounced back in their fifth and final match, producing their strongest performance of the tour.
Australia started aggressively, dominating the first quarter and earning two penalty corners. But India’s defence stood firm, neutralising the early threats with disciplined play.
The breakthrough came in the second quarter when Navneet capitalised on a sharp offensive move to put India ahead.
She had also scored in Saturday’s 2-3 loss, continuing her impressive form on the tour.
The second half saw a tactical battle unfold as both teams searched for opportunities.
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India, however, displayed composure in defence and maintained their one-goal advantage.
In the final quarter, Australia earned a crucial penalty corner but failed to convert, allowing India to seal a memorable win.
The result not only ended India’s tour on a positive note but also highlighted their ability to bounce back under pressure and compete against top-tier opponents.
