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India women's hockey team nets 13 vs Singapore in grand start to Asian Games
Sangita Kumari scored a hat-trick (23’, 47’, 53’) Navneet Kaur scored twice as India dominated Singapore from the word go.
Indian women’s hockey team opened their 19th Asian Games campaign in style by defeating Singapore 13-0 in a Pool A match on Wednesday. What would be heartening for the Indian side in the lopsided contest was the fact that there were 10 different goal scorers. Sangita Kumari scored a hat-trick (23’, 47’, 53’) Navneet Kaur scored twice while Udita (6’), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (8’), Deepika (11’), Navneet Kaur (14’, 14’), Deep Grace Ekka (17’), Neha (19’), Salima Tete (35’), Monika (52’) and Vandana Katariya (56’) found the back of the net.
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, the Indian team won a penalty stroke and they capitalised on it through Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (8’), 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 Kaur (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 Ekka (17’) and Neha (19’) converted penalty corners with ease, while Sangita Kumari (23’) scored a brilliant field goal as India entered the halftime with a commanding 8-0 lead.
Unflustered by their substantial lead, India continued their dominance as Salima Tete (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 Kumari (47’, 53’) netted two goals, while Monika (52’) and Vandana Katariya (56’) scored a goal each to help India register a 13-0 win.
India will next face off against Malaysia on 29 September (Friday).
Schedule of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team:
On 29th September 2023, India Vs Malaysia at 1600 hrs IST
On 1st October 2023, India Vs Korea at 1330 hrs IST
On 3rd October 2023, India Vs Hong Kong China at 0745 hrs IST
