NEW DELHI: The Indian women's hockey team secured their spot in the semifinals of the Asian Games with an emphatic 13-0 victory over Hong Kong in their final pool match.
Experienced striker Vandana Katariya, vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka, and Deepika all delivered hat-tricks for India during this lopsided encounter.
Vandana Katariya showcased her scoring prowess with field goals in the 2nd, 16th, and 48th minutes. Meanwhile, Deep Grace Ekka converted penalty corners into goals in the 11th, 34th, and 42nd minutes. Not to be outdone, Deepika achieved the same feat in the 4th, 54th, and 58th minutes.
Sangita Kumari (27th, 55th), Monika (7th), and Navneet Kaur (58th) also found the back of the net for India, further extending their lead.
With this remarkable victory, India solidified their position at the top of Pool A with 10 points from four games. They maintained a substantial goal difference advantage over the second-placed South Korea, who held seven points with a match still to play. South Korea faced Malaysia in their final group league match on Tuesday.
Under the tournament's format, the top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.
Throughout the match, India exhibited complete dominance, consistently pressuring Hong Kong's defense. This relentless assault resulted in six goals during the first two quarters and an additional seven goals after halftime.
India's Vandana Katariya set the pace, scoring just two minutes into the game with an assist from Navneet Kaur. The team earned consecutive penalty corners but was unable to capitalize as Hong Kong's defense held firm.
India's Deepika further extended the lead, scoring from Vandana's assist during a quick counter-attack. Monika and Deep Grace added two more goals in quick succession, granting India a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Vandana secured her second goal with a tomahawk shot from the edge of the circle. Sangita contributed by tapping in Monika's pass three minutes before halftime, establishing a comfortable 6-0 lead for India at the break.
The trend continued after halftime as India's relentless pressure resulted in seven more goals. Deep Grace achieved her hat-trick by converting two penalty corners in the third quarter. Vandana replicated the feat with another tomahawk goal, securing her hat-trick.
Deepika then showcased her prowess by converting two penalty corners with powerful flicks, matching the achievements of her senior teammates. Sangita and Navneet also joined the scoring spree with one goal each. India will face the second-placed team from Pool B in the semifinals, scheduled for Thursday.
The Indian women's hockey team's dominant performance has rekindled hopes of securing the coveted gold medal at the Asian Games. Their journey continues, with the team eager to make their nation proud.
