The bronze-medal winning Indian junior women's hockey team today returned home amid fanfare and celebrations after scripting history at the seventh FIH Junior World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany.
The team arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here this morning via Dubai by an Emirates Airlines flight.
The Indian eves outplayed England 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the bronze medal play-off match on Sunday to finish on the podium -- their best-ever showing in the marquee event.
Interestingly, the Indian girls had never made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup before this. India captain Sushila Chanu said the entire team was delighted to have made the country proud.
"We're very happy with what we have achieved. There was pressure on us in the bronze medal match but we were confident of winning a medal," she said soon after landing here.
Rani Rampal, who was one of the star performers for India, scoring six goals, include one in regulation time in the bronze medal play-off tie as well as two later in the penalty shootout, said this victory has proved that "hockey is still alive in India".
"It is the biggest win of my career because for us it is equivalent to World Cup. We have never qualified for the Olympics so this win has huge significance for Indian women's hockey," said Rani, who was also adjudged the player of the tournament.
