Dungdung’s Hat-Trick Helps Indian Jr Women’s Hockey Team Beat Chile 5-3

As the Indian junior women's hockey team steamrolled its Chilean counterparts 5-3 in a high-scoring game to allow a complete return to action after a year-long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Striker Beauty Dungdung scored a hat-trick.

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Indian Scorers and Chilean Scorers

In the 29th, 38th and 52nd minutes, the striker from Jharkhand scored, while Lalrindiki (14th) and Sangita Kumari (30th) also recorded their names for India on the scoresheet. Simone Avelli (10th), Paula Sanz (25th) and Fernanda Arrietata earned Chile's goals (49th).

The match started with much of the control being held by the Chile junior team and scoring in the 10th minute as Avelli was on the end of a flawless pass to score the opening goal of the hosts.

Just four minutes later, however, India hit back as forward Lalrindiki found herself in the right spot at the right time to score the equaliser in the 14th minute. When they were given a penalty corner in the 25th minute, the hosts were then presented with a magnificent opportunity to restore their advantage. It was Sanz who stepped up to conduct it, and was fruitful in doing so, giving Chile a lead of 2-1.

Despite the loss, in the later stages of the second quarter, India managed to fight back and overpowered proceedings and scored twice in two minutes to turn the game around. First, in the 29th minute, it was Dungdung who completed a lovely team pass to make it 2-2, and then Sangita saw her shot hit the back of the goalposts, which made it 3-2 in favour of India.

Last Moment Game Change

In the last two quarters, the visitors then took charge of the contest, retained possession, and launched rapid attacking moves to create pressure on their opponents. In the 38th minute, the pressure eventually paid off when Dungdung added a second to her name and India's fourth goal. But, in the 49th minute, Chile used a Penalty Corner to pull a goal back by Arrieta and make the game a nervous end.

But India's young guns left no room for a Chilean comeback, as in the 52nd minute they added a fifth goal to their tally through Dungdung, who scored a hat-trick of goals.

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