India-A women won the four-match hockey series against France-A women 3-1 after beating the visitors 2-0 in the last match at Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium in Lucknow today. Earlier, it was the French side who had won the first match 1-0, but India-A won the last three Matches 3-2, 2-0 and 2-0 to make a solid comeback.

The third match was held at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College, Gorakhpur. The 20-member India-A women team featured four players from Odisha. They were: defender Philicia Toppo, mid-fielder Mariana Kujur, forwards Jiwan Kishori Toppo and Ajmina Kujur. Among the four, Mariana Kujur scored one goal in the second match. The series was part of preparation for the 8th Junior Women Asia Cup to be held later this year.

INDIAN JUNIOR WOMEN TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Bichu Devi Kharibam, Khushboo
Defenders: PhiliciaToppo, Gagandeep Kaur, SalimaTete, Priyanka, Suman Devi Thoudam, Ishika Chaudhary
Mid-fielders: Mahima Choudhary, Prabhleen Kaur, Mariana Kujur, Reet, Baljeet Kaur, Preeti
Forwards: Lalremsiami, Sharmila Devi, Mumtaz Khan, Jiwan Kishori Toppo, Ajmina Kujur, Jyoti.
Coach: Baljeet Singh

RESULTS:
Feb 8 (Match 1): India-A lost to France-A (Ines Lardeur 37’) 0-1.
Feb 10 (Match 2): India A (Mariana Kujur 19`, Lalremsiami 30`, Mumtaz Khan 34`) beat France-A (Mickaela Lahlah 14’, Guusje Van Bolhuis 58`) 3-2.
Feb 12 (Match 3): India-A (Mumtaz Khan 42`, Sharmila Devi 60`) beat France-A 2-0.
Feb 13 (Match 4): India-A (Jyoti 26`, Gagandeep Kaur 32`) beat France-A 2-0.