Lexi pickering

FIH Hockey Pro League: The Indian women’s hockey team fought back from a 0-3 deficit but suffered a narrow 2–3 defeat to Australia in their FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 match at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre here on Saturday.

Before the start of the match, both teams observed a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent aircraft tragedy in Ahmedabad.

After going three goals down, India fought back through goals from Deepika (44') and Neha (52'), but the Australians held their nerve in a fierce final quarter to secure the win. Courtney Schonell (16'), Lexie Pickering (27'), and Tatum Stewart (35') scored goals for Australia. The match also marked a personal milestone for midfielder Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, who completed her 50th appearance for India.