Statistical Deep Dive: Indian Hockey Eves’ Recent Wins over Formidable Australia
For long Australian women’s hockey team held sway over India in international encounters ever since both teams first featured on the international stage at the 1983 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, where the Blueskirts lost narrowly 2-3. It was a match where India could have pulled off a win or even a draw as they struck twice via Fiona Albuquerque to hold a 2-0 lead at half-time, but the Kookaburras rebounded in the second half to level things and relied on a final-minute Robyn Leggatt’s match clincher to scupper the Indian aspirations of at least of coming home with a draw.
Across many decades, the Indian women hockey eves have always found the Hockeyroos a tough nut to crack – on many occasions the ‘competitive element’ was thrown out of the window as games ended in ridiculously one-sided wins for the yellow and green skirts – the most striking being 1-8 defeat in the 2022 Champions Challenge Tourney at Dublin – a 2-9 defeat in a 2004 Test match at Buderin and 1-6 loss at the 2016 Rio Olympics are some other prime instances of how the Hockeyroos rode roughshod over the Blueskirts.
Having said that, the Indian women’s hockey have managed to get the better of Australia quite a few times – take us a look at some of the recent wins Indian eves posted over Australia.
Indian Hockey Eves’ Recent vs Wins Australia
Won 1-0 – 2023-24 Pro League – Rourkela
The most recent win racked up by the Indian hockey eves over Australia was at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela in the 2023-24 Pro League – it was a kind of sweet-revenge-exacting game for India under coach Janneke Schopman (her last international assignment before she had stepped down) after they were beaten in the first leg tie at Bhubaneshwar. It was a tight contest that saw a goalless first half and it needed India’s most capped women hockey player -Vandana Katariya to break the logjam scoring off a penalty corner off a deflection. The Savita Punia-captained Indian women held the solitary goal lead to pull off a rare victory over the Hockeyroos. It was India’s first win over the three-time Olympic champions on home soil.
Won 1-0 – 2021 Olympics – Tokyo
The Indian hockey eves scripted their biggest win ever at the Olympics eking out a solitary goal over Australia in the quarterfinal of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics – a result that surprised many – Gurjit Kaur scored the all-important goal off a shortie in the second quarter and subsequently India fought valiantly to held the slim lead to notch up a famous win. The win propelled Indian eves to its maiden Olympic semifinal appearance.
Won 1-0 – 2016 Test Match – Melbourne
The Indian women won the first Test of the three Test series against Australia at Melbourne – skipper Rani Rampal scored off a direct hit off a penalty corner in the second quarter in a series they lost 1-2 after losing the next two Tests by 1-3 and 1-4 margins respectively. It was the only third win over Australia in last nine years and helped erase bitter memories of their 1-6 loss to the Hockeyroos a few months earlier at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Won 2-1 2011 Test Match – Rockingham
The Indian hockey eves pipped Australia 2-1 in the second of the four Test series played at Rockingham – it was a fine come-from-behind win for India as Australia took an early lead via Amy – the CR Kumar-coached Indian outfit mounted a robust second half comeback with Soundarya Yendala capping off a penalty corner deflection goal and it was left to Vandana Katariya to drill in the match-winner with six minute remaining for the final hooter. India lost the four Test series 1-2 having lost two Tests by 2-3 and 0-5 margins and drawing one game with a 1-1 scoreline.
Image Credit: Hockey India
