SG Pipers started their campaign in the 2nd Women’s Hero Hockey India League with a solid win against Ranchi Royals on Sunday, December 28. The Pipers added their first win of the tournament after defeating the Royals by a score of 2-0 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. Captain Navneet Kaur led the Pipers to a composed victory against the Royals, with one goal scored by her and the second one by Teresa Viana.
The first quarter saw both teams in an intense battle, followed by aggressive defence gameplay, but no penalty corners came in early. The Royals tried to maintain a strong defence from Hannah Cotter on the left. Navneet and Deepika Sehrawat held the attack in the circle.
However, soon enough the Royals got their first penalty corner from Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, but the Pipers’ goalkeeper managed to restrict Maria Ortiz’s drag-flick quite well. The Pipers then struck back with multiple penalty corners, but the early attempts from Lola Riera went to waste. But soon they got their chance with Navneet’s penalty corner strikes to the opponent’s net, and Pipers registered their first goal of the match. Meanwhile, the Royals go all out in the third quarter by getting many multiple penalty corners, but fail to make it to their advantage.
With the lead on their hand, Pipers continued to strike and in the final quarter they get their second goal from Viana, who found the space on the left flank, and went past the goalkeeper to score the ball in the net. They maintained their dominance after that and kept the lead to themselves, giving their opponent no chance to score.
All the matches of Women’s HIL is being broadcasted live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, and DD Sports, while streaming on Waves and the HIL YouTube channel. The league will continue until January 10, 2026.
SG Pipers Squad for 2025-26 Women’s HIL
Bansari Solanki, Udita, Jyoti Singh, Manisha, Suman Devi Thoudam, Shilpi Dabas, Sunelita Toppo, Ishika, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Sharmila Devi, Preeti Dubey, Cristina Cosentino (ARG), Lola Riera (ESP), Costa Biondi Valentina Isabel (ARG), Kaitlin Nobbs (Australia), Juana Castellaro (ARG), Maria Teresa Vianaache (URU), Priscilla Jardel Mateos (ARG) Shrachi
Ranchi Royals Squad for 2025-26 Women’s HIL
Madhuri Kindo, Bichu Devi, Lalthantluangi, Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Neha Goyal, Nandini, Albela Toppo, Beauty Dung Dung, Sakshi Rana, Deepika Soreng, Sangita Kumari, Rutuja Pisal, Maria Elias (ARG), Lucina Heyde (ARG), Sabine Plonissen (NED), Paula Ortiz (ARG), Agostina Alonso (ARG), Agustina Albertario (ARG), Hannah Corter (NZL)
