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It was disappointment for India at the Junior Asia Cup as the Women’s hockey team lost to Japan 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the semifinal after the game ended 2-2 at full-time on Saturday.
India got off to a near-perfect start with Deep Grace Ekka giving the team an early lead, courtesy a penalty-corner goal in the 4th minute of the game. But Japan equalised soon in the same half, thanks to a strike from Yukari Mano.
Renuka Yadav made it 2-1 for India in the 25th minute and that's where it ended at the halftime mark. But Japan continued to press on and eventually brought the match back on level terms through a goal from Ayane Hirahara in the 57th minute of the game.
Despite best efforts, that where the match ended after regulation time, leading to a penalty shootout to decide who would progress through to the final. In the shootout out it was India who took the early lead only for Japan to equalise from the second shot.
After a save from Inderpreet Kaur, India made it 2-1 in their favour but two consecutive conversions from Japan sealed the deal in their favour as they made it through to the summit clash.
