Hangzhou: Indian women’s hockey team is off to a winning start to their 19th Asian Games campaign, defeating Singapore 13-0 in a Pool A match, here at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium, on Wednesday.
Udita (6’), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (8’), Deepika (11’), Navneet Kaur (14’, 14’), Deep Grace Ekka (17’), Neha (19’), Sangita Kumari (23’, 47’, 53’), Salima Tete (35’), Monika (52’) and Vandana Katariya (56’) were the goal scorers for India.
India displayed their dominance from the word go, pressing relentlessly and launching consistent attacks against Singapore courtesy of which they even won two early penalty corners and Udita (6’) converted the second one to give them a much deserving lead early in the game.
Moments later after scoring their first goal, India won a penalty stroke and they capitalised on it through Sushila Chanu, who slotted the ball in the left bottom corner to give her side a 2-0 lead.
The goals kept coming for India as Deepika (11’) converted a penalty corner to extend her team’s lead, following which Navneet (14’, 14’) netted two goals – one through a penalty corner and the other by smartly dodging the Singapore defenders and goalkeeper to give India a solid 5-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter continued in a similar fashion, with the Indian team maintaining control of the game through ball possession and relentless attacks, which once again paid off as Deep Grace (17’) and Neha (19’) converted penalty corners with ease, while Sangita (23’) scored a brilliant field goal as India entered the halftime with a commanding 8-0 lead.
–IANS
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Unflustered by their substantial lead, India continued their dominance as Salima (35’) netted a field goal to make sure that the third quarter ended with India leading 9-0.
The Indian team showed no signs of slowing down in the final quarter as Sangita (47’, 53’) netted two goals, while Monika (52’) and Vandana (56’) scored a goal each to help India register a 13-0 win.
Indian women’s will next face off against Malaysia on Friday in their second Pool A game.
–IANS
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