India Dominates Thailand 13-0 In Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

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Women’s Asian Champions Trophy: The Indian women’s hockey team continued its winning trend by thumping Thailand 13-0 in their third outing of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), which more or less confirmed their place in the semi-final. This comprehensively won match ensured India was still steering the train of the tournament as they remained spotless and were all forceful enough to head the group stages.

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The match, which was played on Thursday was a one-sided affair with India relentlessly attacking throughout the match. Thailand was not to score even a solitary shot against them, and India continued to pierce their defense seam like any fragile yarn. Showcasing India’s effective attacking ability in full swing it can be said that a clinical performance saw Deepika score five goals, cementing her place as one of the stars of the match.

Key Players Shine in India’s Victory in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

Deepika was the clear top scorer of the match, scoring five goals in the 3rd, 19th, 43rd, 45th, and 45th minutes. Her wonderful contribution to the scoreline was matched by Preeti Dubey, Lalremsiami, and Manisha Chauhan who each scored two goals. Preeti netted goals in the 9th and 40th minutes while Lalremsiami found the back of the net in the 12th and 56th minutes.

Manisha also made it two goals in the 55th and 58th minutes of play, while Beauty Dung Dung in the 30th minute and Navneet Kaur in the 53rd minute also found their way into the Indian goal. The Indian penalty corner conversion also ticked all the boxes, with the team scoring five from 12 attempts. The result was clinical finishing and combination with team play, and relentless attacking that hardly gave Thailand a chance at this game.

Dominant First Half in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy IND vs THAI

As it was, the match got off to a blistering pace as India took an early lead in the third minute with Deepika’s field goal. Thailand could not keep pace with the Indian attack, and by the 9th minute, Preeti Dubey doubled India’s lead by channeling a pass from Sangeeta. India continued dominating and Lalremsiami made it 3-0 three minutes later by converting a rebound off a shot by captain Salima Tete.

India got a penalty corner in the 17th minute, but Thailand’s goalkeeper, Siraya Yimkrajeng, was quick to intervene. Still, in the 19th minute, Deepika made it 4-0 for India, and just before the break Beauty Dung Dung added another when she converted a penalty corner in the 30th minute to take it 5-0 at halftime.

A Second Half Slaughter

India didn’t let the pedal down in the second half of the match. Preeti Dubey scored her second goal in the 40th minute which further widened the lead for the Indians. The Indians did not waste much time after that; a penalty corner was easily driven in by Deepika to the back of the net which increased the lead to 7-0. The Indian forwards were unstoppable and managed to get two quick goals in the 43rd and 45th minutes to complete a hat-trick by Deepika and take the tally to 9-0.

Navneet Kaur added India’s tenth in the 53rd with a powerful reverse hit and five minutes later Manisha Chauhan scored from a penalty corner. Lalremsiami scored again in the 56th minute as she headed in Udita’s shot from a penalty corner. Manisha ended the tally of the match with her second goal in the 58th minute ensuring an easy 13-0 win for India.

Ticket to the Semifinal for India in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

This thumping victory has endeared India to an assured semi-final spot as they have gained three successive wins in the tournament. Earlier, they had defeated Malaysia 4-0 and edged past South Korea 3-2. Currently, India is placed second in the points table with nine points, they’re on par with China, who is topping on the back of superior goal difference.

India next faces Olympic silver medallists China on Saturday. Both teams are on nine points but China is a point ahead due to a +21 goal difference as compared to India’s +18.

The top four sides from this six-team pool will qualify to go into the semi-finals after the round-robin stage. India’s comprehensive performance in this match, with special notice for penalty-corner conversion, has given them a good platform to go deep in the tournament.

Malaysia defeated Korea 2-1 and China remained unbeaten with a 2-1 win over Japan in other matches on the day.

India will play their final group-stage match on Wednesday and will look to finally wrap up things on a good note and make it through to the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.

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