Zimbabwe U21 ladies hockey team lose 2 of their opening matches as they make a fifth appearance at the Women’s Junior World Cup, and their third in succession. After finishing bottom of the standings at Ottawa 1989, Santiago 2005 and Santiago 2016 competitions, the team finished 12th out of 15 at the Potchefstroom 2022 event in South Africa, and they will be keen to set an even higher mark at Santiago 2023.

Earlier this year, Zimbabwe took the silver medal at the Junior Africa Cup 2023 in Ismailia, Egypt, giving South Africa a stern test in the competition final before a fourth quarter strike from Jesquinique Coltman ended their hopes, losing 1-0. Seventeen-year-old Tinodiwanashe Elijah netted four times at the competition in Ismailia, with Tanyaradzwa Changa and Kaylee Sithole scoring two apiece. The team are coached by Bradley Heuer, a goalkeeper who has represented Zimbabwe senior men’s team both outdoors and indoors.

Match Results from Day 1 of the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup 2023, on 29 November, 2023:

Match 1: Korea 6-0 Zimbabwe
Match 2: Netherlands 2-2 Australia
Match 3: India 12-0 Canada
Match 4: Argentina 1-0 Spain
Match 5: Germany 0-6 Belgium
Match 6: South Africa 0-1 Chile

Match Results from Day 3, on 1 December, 2023:

Match 13: Spain 8-0 Zimbabwe
Match 14: New Zealand 1-2 Japan
Match 15: United States 2-5 England
Match 16: Korea 0-3 Argentina