SAI- Academy defeated Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre 5-4 via shootout after both teams were locked at 2-2 in regulation time to clinch the 1st Hockey India Sub Junior Women Academy National Championship 2021 title in Bhubaneswar.
SAI- Academy yet again held their nerves to emerge as champions of the inaugural edition of the tournament after putting up a remarkable fightback in the regulation time. The team twice came from behind in the match to deny the hosts a victory in the 60 minutes as Captain Sonam (38′) and Kirti (55′) scored goals for SAI-Academy. The hosts Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre took the lead twice through goals from Preet Aman Kaur (8′) and Priya Toppo (42′).
After being locked again at 4-4 in the shootout, it was Puja Sahoo who scored the winning goal for SAI-Academy in the sudden death to help her team win the championship.
Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy beat Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy 8-0 to finish third in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Swati (28′, 33′, 38′, 57′) smashed four goals while Captain Bhumiksha Sahu (36′, 45′) bagged a fine brace. Huda Khan (46′) and Sneha Patel (60′) also scored a goal each in what was a dominant win for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.
Skipper Bhumiksha Sahu finished the tournament on the top of the goalscorers’ list, scoring as many as 21 goals in six matches whereas her teammate Swati, who scored16 goals, capped off the tournament as the second-highest goalscorer.
