VOINews, Aceh: The Papua women's hockey team has finally secured their first win in the 2024 PON XXI Aceh-North Sumatra games, marking an important milestone in their campaign. The team defeated Lampung 3-1 at the Universitas Negeri Medan Sports Hall on Saturday, breaking a losing streak and injecting new confidence into their future matches.
The game took a pivotal turn in the second quarter when Papua's Melahi Lidia Rumbiak scored, setting the pace for her team's dominance. Her impressive performance continued with another goal in the third quarter, which widened the gap between the two teams. The match was firmly in Papua's favor when they scored a third goal in the 34th minute, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead.
Despite Lampung's determined efforts to recover, led by coach Teguh Arijanto, they only managed to score once towards the end of the final quarter. The late goal slightly reduced the deficit, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the game, leaving the final score at 3-1 in favor of Papua.
Edward Rumbiak, the coach of Papua's indoor hockey team, expressed satisfaction with his players' performance after the match. He praised the team for maintaining composure and following the strategic instructions given by the coaching staff, which played a crucial role in securing their victory.
"This match has provided us with motivation for the upcoming games. The players performed well today," Edward said, emphasizing the importance of the win for the team’s morale. However, he also acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in the area of offense.
Edward pointed out that while the team created numerous scoring opportunities, they failed to capitalize on many of them. "We will work on strengthening our attack, as we missed several chances that could have resulted in more goals," he added.
This victory lifted Papua off the bottom of the current standings, moving them to fifth place with three points from four matches. Meanwhile, Lampung’s struggles continue, as they dropped to the last position with only one point from four games.
The win is not only a boost for Papua’s standing in the tournament but also a testament to their resilience. Having struggled in earlier matches, this victory serves as a turning point, offering the team a renewed sense of purpose as they prepare for their next challenges.
In the broader context, this game highlights the unpredictable nature of sports, where perseverance and adaptability can turn the tide in favor of teams that may have previously struggled. Papua's win over Lampung demonstrates the importance of maintaining focus and believing in the possibility of change, no matter how difficult the start.
With this first win under their belt, the Papua women's hockey team can now look forward to the remainder of the tournament with optimism, aiming to continue building on the momentum gained from this breakthrough performance./ANTARA/VOI
