Hangzhou: The Indian women's hockey team thrashed Singapore 13-0 in the opener at Asia Games 2023 here on Wednesday.
With this win, India topped the Pool A points table with top two teams from each Pool will qualify for the semifinals.
Udita (6’), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (8’), Deepika (11’), Navneet (14’, 14’), Deep Grace Ekka (17’), Neha (19’), Sangita Kumari (23’, 47’, 53’), Salima Tete (35’), Vandana Katariya (56’) and Monika (52’) scored in India’s thumping win over Singapore.
Ranked seventh in FIH rankings, the Indian women’s hockey team began aggressively against the 34th-ranked Singapore.
Five minutes into the match, Udita drag-flicked it past the Singapore goalkeeper to put India in front off a penalty corner.
Before Singapore could regroup from the early blow, India scored two more in quick succession via Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Deepika. In the closing minutes of the opening quarter, Navneet Kaur netted a brace to make the scoreline 5-0 in India’s favour.
The Indian team began the second quarter with the same intent. Deep Grace Ekka and Neha added two more goals to India’s tally before Sangita slotted home for India’s eight of the match. India led 8-0 at the halfway mark.
After the change of ends, the Indian team kept control of the match and continued to add to their tally in the second half. Salima Tete, Sangita Kumari, Vandana Katariya and Monika notched up five goals in the last two quarters to wrap up a big win for India. Sangita Kumari finished with a hat-trick.
The Indian women’s hockey team will play Malaysia next at the Asian Games 2023 on Friday.
The Indian women’s team has regularly featured at the Asian Games since the 1982 edition, where they won the gold medal. India finished with a silver medal at the last Jakarta Asian Games 2018. (UNI)