India women get into party mode with 21-0 victory
JAKARTA: Promised a beach party on Wednesday, the India women’s hockey team got into the mood a day prior, beating Kazakhstan 21-0 in a Pool B league match of the Asian Games.
The Asia Cup champions didn’t miss skipper Rani Rampal on way to scripting the second best score in the Games’ history. Not since India beating Hong Kong 22-0 in the 1982 Asian Games has a team notched up a win this facile.
How wide the chasm was between India and their opponents could be gauged by the 7-1 win when they last met, in the 2017 Asia Cup.
GURJIT SHINES
That gap seemed to have got wider as India scored at regular intervals after taking seven minutes to open their account.that happened when Gurjit Kaur converted team’s third penalty corner with a quick push.
Thereafter, it was raining goals. Gurjit got three more (36’ penalty stroke, 44’ and 52’).
Lalremsiami (9’, 19’, 30’), Navneet Kaur (11’, 12’, 49’), Vandana Katariya (29’, 37’, 53’) all got hattricks, Navjot Kaur (16’, 54’), Lilima Minz (38’, 44’) got a brace each with Neha Goyal (10’), Udita (34’), Deep Grace Ekka (43’) and Monika (55’) all sounding the boards once.
But for their goalkeeper Guxzal Bakhavaddin who saved three penalty corners and nearly six more shots on goal, the margin of victory would have been greater. The Kazakh forwards barely touched the India’s dee twice.
COACH HAPPY
“Yes, we are in a celebration mode and will be having a beach party tomorrow,” said India coach Sjoerd Marijne after the match.
“There was no scoreline we had in our minds; we just wanted to play good hockey. For me, the number doesn’t matter, how we play does.”
“Since we are the Asia champions, we should play like champions and I am happy that the girls did what I was expecting them to do today.
Their passing was good and I am sure this win would help them prepare well for the match against Korea on Saturday.”
Marijne said that after a day’s celebration, the team would get down to the training as the match against Korea would be tough. “We need to work hard so practice sessions are slated on Thursday and Friday.”
Skipper Rani said: “I didn’t play today as I have a minor glutes (muscles that form the buttock) injury.
I will be fit to play against Korea. We are excited to celebrate the win at the party as a break was much needed.”