The Indian junior women’s hockey team concluded their run in the Four-Nation Tournament with a hard-fought 2–4 loss to hosts Argentina on Monday. Despite moments of brilliance, defensive lapses and Argentina’s clinical finishing proved too much for the Indian side to overcome.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with Argentina striking twice within the first seven minutes. Sol Gignet Gunaju opened the scoring in the 5th minute, followed swiftly by a goal from Sol Ollala de Labra, putting the home team 2–0 ahead early.
India, however, responded with commendable resilience. Forward Kanika Siwach showcased her attacking prowess by piercing through Argentina’s defense to net India’s first goal in the 11th minute, keeping the contest alive. Her quick footwork and sharp finishing gave India a much-needed momentum shift. Just two minutes later, though, Argentina regained control. Milagros’ strike in the 13th minute extended their lead to 3–1, exploiting gaps in India’s backline. The hosts continued to press forward, and in the 37th minute, they netted a fourth goal, tightening their grip on the game.
India showed glimpses of a comeback in the final quarter. Siwach once again rose to the occasion, scoring her second goal in the 45th minute, narrowing the margin to 2–4. However, Argentina’s defense remained composed under pressure, shutting down further Indian advances and sealing the match. With this defeat, the Indian junior team bows out of the tournament, having displayed fighting spirit but falling short against more tactically disciplined opponents.
