Year in Review: 3 Best Moments in Indian Hockey from 2019

#2 India 3-1 Japan (Final - Women's FIH Series Finals)

Beating Japan in their own backyard

At Hiroshima, Anthony Farry's side went on the offensive even before the Indian defenders had time to settle in, but it was the Indian eves who earned a PC against the run of play.

All eyes were on Gurjit Kaur who had scored 9 goals in the tournament, but it was Rani Rampal who caught the Japanese off guard with a characteristic slap shot that found the back of the netting.

The hosts upped the ante almost immediately with the Indian midfield falling back to help out in defence - but the sheer pace of the Asian Games champions was too much to handle and Kanan Mori scored off a counter to help her side go into half-time with the scores level.

Neither team scored in the cagey second quarter but the tension was palpable.

Back in Jakarta, an injured Gurjit had failed to convert the only PC that the Indians earned, but the star drag-flicker was at her best this time around.

After a period of staunch resistance, not even the fearless Japanese could run her down as she unleashed a lethal shot that gave the Indians their second goal just before the end of the third quarter.

Navneet's tomahawk was padded away by the Japanese goalie as the Indians looked to increase their tally and the pressure paid off when Gurjit scored her eleventh with a minute left on the clock.

Beating the Japanese in their own backyard was something the Golden Girls had been determined to do ever since the finals of Jakarta 2018. Young Indian striker Lalremsiami who lost her father on the eve of the semifinals against Chile stayed on at Hiroshima to inspire her team record yet another momentous win.