Late Goals Hand Australia 2-1 Win Over Indian Women

A dramatic second-half turnaround saw Australia defeat India 2-1 in the opening match of their women’s hockey series in Perth. Navneet Kaur’s early penalty-corner strike put the visitors ahead, and India’s compact defensive shape kept that advantage intact until halftime. Momentum swung sharply after the interval. Abby Wilson pounced on two penalty-corner chances, scoring in successive quarters to give the home side a lead they never surrendered. Coach Shord Marin will be disappointed with the lapses, yet the match offered valuable data as India fine-tunes its strategies for the upcoming FIH Women’s Nations Cup. The squad arrived in Australia buoyed by a spirited draw against Argentina earlier this year and has spent recent weeks sharpening skills at the SAI Bengaluru camp. With a balanced roster mixing emerging talents and seasoned campaigners, the team is determined to bounce back when the series resumes on Wednesday.