Indian women’s hockey team finished at 10th spot after losing against Spain 1-2 at Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile on Thursday, marking their second-worst performance in the tournament’s history. In the past editions India’s finishing positions were: 2023 – 9th, 2022 – 4th, 2013 – 3rd, 2009 – 9th, 2005 – 11th, 2001 – 9th. India started the Junior World Cup in Chile with a win against Namibia but their defeat against Germany effectively ended their quarterfinal hopes. They beat Ireland to enter the 9-16 classification bracket. They beat Wales, but then struggled against Uruguay where they needed a penalty shootout to prevail after being wasteful in 60 minutes. Eventually, against Spain, they lost to finish 10th. India and Spain delivered a high-level contest for ninth place, with Spain showing greater clarity in circulation and in their exits from the back. Spain progressively opened spaces along the right flank until the breakthrough in Q2: a driven cross from the wing and a delicate deflection from Natalia Vilanova redirected the ball …