K. ARUMUGAM
India and Argentina women hockey teams do not often face each other in major tournaments. However, they play each other in almost alternate year at least a match. It doesn’t mean they don’t play often. In fact, Indian women hockey teams, Seniors and Juniors, go to Argentina (Buenos Aires, Parana, Rossario) and play practice matches, which statistically don’ t count. Because, the FIH has introduced a system of classifying matches into ‘Official’ since 2013. That’s why recent visit of India to Argentina (Jan-Feb 2021 in which India played thrice against Argentina (2-3, 0-2, 1-1), twice against Juniors (2-2, 1-1) and twice against Argentina B (1-2, 2-3) doesn’t fall under the purview of ‘Official’ matches. However, the takeaway here is that India played Argentina very recently.
In the last 12 years till now, both have played only six time in international matches. The results are
07.12.2011 Buenos Aires 4-Nation: In the opener, India almost surprised them before going down by a solitary goal. Jaspreet Kaur and captain Ritu Rani struck India goals.
14.12.2011: Parana 4-Nation Cup: Rani Rampal (now in Tokyo) was just a teenager, but it did not make her score the only goal of India as it went down 1-3.
24.11.2015: Test Series Match No.1: India drew the mighty Argentina 2-2, with goals coming from Monika (now in Tokyo) and Ritu Rani. Captain Ritu converted a stroke.
25.11.2016: Test Series Match No.1: India went down tamely but not before Vandana Katariya (now in Tokyo) making her mark with a 30th minute goal. Final score 1-4.
13.08.2016: Argentina walloped Sushila Chanu led India for a 0-5 score. Indians now need not worry on this bad day, as Australia also used to do the same before and went down to Rani Rampal’s India 0-1 here in Tokyo
16.07.2017: Hockey World League Semifinal. Argentina overwhelmed India 0-3.
Over all in the last ten years, both played 6 times (other than many high intensity practice matches) with Argentina winning five times and a match ending draw. India scored six goals while the Pan American Champions amassed 20.