Early on Friday in Chile, Indian women’s U21 team played their third group-stage match at the FIH Junior World Cup againt Ireland, making it two wins out three matches to be on six points. But, as all group-stage matches came to an end on Saturday, India ended up missing out on place in the quarterfinals, as the tourmament’s new format ended their hopes of progressing to the business end. In their match against Ireland, India set the tone from the start with nine circle penetrations in the first quarter and the opening goal in the 12th minute, when Kanikac Siwach finished a field play after sustained high pressing. Ireland, by contrast, were unable to generate penalty corners and produced only one circle entry, relying on a compact defensive block to withstand India’s superiority. In the second quarter India kept control, earning three consecutive penalty corners and creating seven additional entries, though without increasing the lead. After half-time, the Asian side intensified their dominance: nine more circle penetrations and the 2–0 goal from a penalty corner …