Katie curtis

Vaishnavi Vitthal Phallke: In a thrilling encounter, the Indian women’s hockey team defeated England 3-2 in their opening match of the FIH Women’s Pro League at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday. Vice-captain Navneet Kaur sealed the victory with a decisive late winner. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phallke (6’), Deepika (25’), and Navneet Kaur (59’) found the net for India, while Darcy Bourne (12’) and Fiona Crackles (58’) scored for England.

Two of India’s goals came from penalty corners, showcasing an improvement in an area that has often been considered their Achilles' heel.

The first quarter was tightly contested, with both teams scoring once. India took the lead in the sixth minute after earning the first penalty corner of the match. Manisha Chauhan’s initial shot was blocked by England’s first rusher, Tessa Howard. The rebound fell to Sushila Chanu, who unleashed a powerful shot that was smartly deflected into the net by Vaishnavi Vitthal Phallke. After a brief review, the goal was awarded to India.