Rajgir (Bihar). Young forward Deepika scored five goals as the Indian women's hockey team registered a lopsided 130 win against Thailand in their third group stage match of the Bihar Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.
Deepika scored in the 3rd, 19th, 43rd, 44th and 45th minutes, while Preeti Dubey (9', 40'), Lalremsiami (12', 56') and Beauty Dungdung (30'), Navneet Kaur (53') and Manisha Chauhan (55', 58') also scored other goals for India.
Notably, Lerremsiami achieved the important milestone of playing 150 matches for the Indian women's hockey team in this match, along with Preeti Dubey completing 50 matches.
India played with full strength in the first quarter. Deepika seized the first opportunity and launched a reverse tomahawk from the middle of the circle, which went past Thailand goalkeeper Siraya Yimkrajang. Thailand tried to gain control by moving the ball around the backline, but India continued to dominate the game by creating consistent scoring chances. Sangeeta cut the ball back to Preeti Dubey from the right wing, who doubled India's lead with an easy push across goal in her 50th match.
Lalremsiami, who was celebrating her milestone on Thursday, scored with three minutes remaining in the quarter when Salima Tete's shot was saved on the goal line. India's brilliant play continued in the second quarter as well, where they got a penalty corner within two minutes. Although Thailand tried to save several attempts on goal, Deepika soon pounced on a loose ball in the circle, after Navneet Kaur's pass was intercepted, and made a quick halfturn to put it into the net. Due to which India's score became 40.
India's defense was impenetrable, preventing any counterattacks, while Salima and Neha dominated the midfield, constantly finding teammates in the shooting circle. India earned another penalty corner in the last minute of the first half. After a chaotic sequence of close shots and defending, Beauty Dungdung headed the ball into the goal, ending a brilliant first half for India.
Thailand were forced back into their own half in the third quarter as the relentless Indian forward line continually won the ball high up the pitch and threatened Siraya Yimkrajang on goal. With five minutes left in the quarter, India counterattacked through Vaishnavi, who found Preethi running past the Thailand defence.
Preeti stepped forward, dodged the goalkeeper and put the ball into the empty goal, scoring her second goal and making the score 60 for India. Without any interruption, Deepika touched the top left corner of the goal from the penalty corner and completed her hattrick by the end of the quarter. With seconds left, Deepika pounced again on a deflected ball in the shooting circle and rocketed home a reverse to score her fourth goal. But Deepika still kept her game going – from the second penalty corner, she chose the bottom right corner this time, making India's score 90.
India continued their dominance in the fourth quarter, putting Thailand's defense under constant pressure. With seven minutes left, Navneet Kaur scored another goal for India, beating the goalkeeper. Due to constant pressure, India got a penalty corner five minutes before time. Manisha stepped forward and hit a precise drag flick between the goalkeeper's legs, increasing India's lead to 11 goals.
Subsequently, Bichu Devi Kharibam was fouled to further strengthen the Indian attack, which immediately resulted in another penalty corner. Udita skillfully passed the ball to Lalremsiami, who deflected it into the goal. Shortly after, Manisha took advantage of a loose ball in the shooting circle, rolling it into the goal from a wide angle to make the score 130. This emphatic scoreline ensured a comprehensive victory for India, demonstrating their superiority throughout the match.
India will next face Paris Olympics silver medalist China on Saturday.
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.