The India women's team played a calculated game to register a 3-0 win over Malaysia in their second round-robin league match of the World Hockey League (Rd 2) at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
With this win Neil Hawgood's trainees have crossed the Malaysian hurdle, but to top
the table the home team needs to beat the strong Japan, who have been the most impressive so far, winning their second league match on Tuesday, defeating Kazakhstan 11-0.
India played a waiting game against Malaysia and caught their defenders on the wrong foot.
They earned a penalty corner in the ninth minute and Vandana Katariya deflected Joydeep Kaur's push into the goal (1-0).
Another good counter-attack move in the third minute of the second half saw India enhancing the lead.
Finishing flourish
Latching on to a piercing pass from Rani Rampal, Katariya sent it past the goalkeeper Huzaimah Mas to make it 2-0. India completed the tally in the 65th minute when Rani's cracking shot found the target.