Patiala, 17 November (Sports Desk)
India’s women’s hockey team produced a stunning upset on Saturday, defeating Olympic silver medalists China 3-0 to qualify for the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy.
Goals from Sangita Kumari (32nd minute), captain Salima Tete (37th minute), and tournament top-scorer Deepika (60th minute) sealed the victory for the Indian team.
This was India’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament against the world number six team. With eight points from four matches, India now tops the table. China slipped to second place with six points from four matches.
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India will conclude their round-robin matches against Japan on Sunday.
A Dominant Display India started the match on the front foot, creating several early chances. However, the Chinese defense held strong. Despite earning two penalty corners in the opening minutes, India couldn’t convert either.
In the second half, India continued to dominate possession and finally broke the deadlock when Sangita finished off a well-worked move. Five minutes later, captain Salima doubled India’s lead with a field goal.
With time running out, China pulled their goalkeeper in a desperate attempt to score, but India capitalized on the extra space, with Deepika scoring a penalty corner in the final minute.
Key Takeaways:
- Dominant Performance: India outplayed a higher-ranked Chinese team.
- Strong Defense: The Indian defense was resolute throughout the match.
- Clinical Finishing: India converted their chances effectively, especially in the second half.
- Top of the Table: India secured top spot in the group stage.
