Alana Kavanagh and Grace Young have already experienced the adrenaline rush – and honour – of representing Australia’s senior women’s Hockey team, the Hockeyroos, but neither could contain their pride and excitement in being selected for the Jillaroos to compete at the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup in Chile.
Seven capped Hockeyroos are among the 18-player Jillaroos team announced to represent Australia at the 10th edition of the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup 2023 in Chile starting on 29 November.
A few quiet words from the Hockeyroos coaching staff to Alana Kavanagh before she made her senior international debut against India last May not only quelled the butterflies that were rioting in her stomach, but they empowered the Sydneysider to play her own game.
New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, Courtney Schonell, led the way for Australia as a largely inexperienced Hockeyroos team featuring five debutantes scored a stirring 4-2 win over India on a memorable night in Adelaide.