Marlow (England), Sep 28: Gurjit Kaur's brilliant goal in the dying moments of the game helped the Indian women's hockey team come from behind and register 2-1 victory over Great Britain.
In a highly attritional first quarter of the opening match of the five-game series, neither of the teams managed to break the deadlock on Friday. Despite attacking efforts from both sides, it was the two defenses that stood out, holding fort to ensure the scoreboard was untouched at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indian eves took control of the game and won a couple of penalty corners in the opening minutes forcing smart saves from Maddie Hinch. Soon enough it was Great Britain's turn but India's goalkeeper Savita pulled off a smart save to deny their opponents an opener. The two teams went into half-time locked in a goalless stalemate.
India controlled the action in the third quarter, but despite multiple circle penetrations, Great Britain''s defence held strong to deny an opener.
Great Britain broke through first in the final quarter with Emily Defrond scoring in the 46th minute to give them the lead. Despite going down India kept up the pressure and soon reaped the dividends, with Sharmila Devi carrying out a superb goal to level the scores.
With 48 seconds of the game to play, India won a penalty corner and this time Gurjit slotted the ball home to seal the match for the team and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The second match of the series will be played on Sunday.
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Khargone (MP) (PTI): The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on Friday confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh who became famous due to her viral videos during the 2025 Maha Kumbh has been found to be a minor after an inquiry.
Citing the findings of an inquiry panel set up by the commission, local BJP leaders alleged that her interfaith marriage in Kerala last month was a case of "love Jihad", and sought legal action.
While the panel had submitted its report in March, ST commission chairman Antar Singh Arya confirmed its findings to the PTI on Friday.
A case for alleged kidnapping and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has already been registered against her husband, a Muslim man, at Maheshwar on the basis of the inquiry findings, police said.
The girl gained national fame after her videos while selling garlands and rudraksha at the Maha Kumbh went viral on social media and also earned her a role in a film.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes set up an inquiry panel after receiving a complaint on March 17 from Pratham Dubey, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, that she was a minor and was being exploited.
Maheshwar BJP MLA Rajkumar Mev and BJP mandal president Vikram Patel, armed with documents, told reporters on Friday that her marriage in Kerala was a case of "love Jihad" and she should be brought back home.
'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into marriage to convert them to Islam.
Police said an investigation is underway, and further action would be taken accordingly.
The girl, who belongs to the nomadic Pardhi community, got married at a temple in Kerala in March. The interfaith marriage drew angry reactions from rightwing Hindu groups.
Her family members and film director Sanoj Mishra -- who had offered her a film role after she became famous -- too alleged that it was 'love Jihad'.
As per the inquiry conducted by the ST commission, records at the Maheshwar government hospital showed the woman's date of birth as December 30, 2009 which meant she was 16 years and two months old at the time of marriage, said Dubey, the complainant.
On a complaint filed by her father, police registered a case against the girl's husband at Maheshwar police station on March 25 for alleged kidnapping and under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police sources said that a separate case was also registered on March 24 under section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (taking a minor from lawful custody of guardian without their consent) based on the the commission's findings.
