India made a commanding start to its FIH Junior Women’s World Cup campaign on December 1, beating Namibia 13-0 at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile. The emphatic win comes on the heels of a strong performance by India’s junior men in their World Cup tournament in Tamil Nadu.

The Indian team traveled across continents to South America to begin its quest, and the opening match showcased depth, precision, and attacking flair. Hina Bano (35’, 35’, 45’) and Kanika Siwach (12’, 30’, 45’) each recorded hat-tricks, while Sakshi Rana (10’, 23’) scored twice. Additional goals came from Binima Dhan (14’), Sonam (14’), Sakshi Shukla (27’), Ishika (36’), and Manisha (60’). With the result, India moved to the top of its pool.

India asserted control almost immediately, registering a shot on target in the opening thirty seconds and quickly testing the Namibia goalkeeper. The early pressure paid off as the team struck four goals in four minutes. Sakshi Rana opened the scoring with a reverse flick in the 10th minute, followed by Kanika Siwach’s powerful effort in the 12th. Binima Dhan added a third after a sharp run, and Sonam netted the fourth in the 14th minute, giving India a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The momentum continued into the second quarter as Rana scored her second goal with a strong run and finish in the 23rd minute. Namibia attempted to push forward but struggled to bypass India’s dominant midfield. A drag flick from Sakshi Shukla extended the lead to 6-0 in the 27th minute, before Siwach delivered her second of the match on the stroke of halftime, making it 7-0.

India carried its dominance into the second half. Hina Bano struck twice in the 35th minute, the first a fierce shot into the top corner and the second capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Namibia. Ishika added the tenth goal in the 36th minute after a rebound from a penalty corner. Bano completed her hat-trick in the 45th minute, and Siwach followed with her third goal from a penalty corner, giving India a 12-0 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter saw India rotate players, offering the bench an opportunity to gain match experience. Namibia held off further damage until the final minute, when Manisha converted a penalty corner to close out the 13-0 victory.

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