India delivered a commanding performance in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, thrashing Thailand 13-0 in their third game on Thursday. The win in Rajgir, Bihar, keeps India unbeaten in the tournament, tied on nine points with China, though China retains the top spot due to a superior goal difference.
The match was one-sided from the outset, with India dominating possession and relentlessly attacking a Thai side that struggled to contain the hosts’ firepower. Deepika was the star of the show, scoring five goals, including two from penalty corners and three in open play. Her opening strike came just three minutes into the match with a stunning reverse hit from the top of the circle.
India’s attacking prowess was on full display as multiple players got on the scoresheet. Manisha Chauhan celebrated her first two international goals, one from a penalty corner and another from a casual swing that trickled past the Thai goalkeeper. Preeti Dubey, Lalremsiami, and Beauty Dung Dung added two goals each, showing India’s depth and versatility.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, India adopted a slightly cautious approach in the first half, taking time to find their rhythm. Thailand, buoyed by an impressive draw in their previous game, packed their defense and managed to hold India to a modest lead in the early stages. However, the floodgates opened after halftime, with India unleashing an offensive barrage.
Four goals came in the last three minutes of the third quarter, highlighting India’s ability to shift gears when needed. The final four minutes saw India go all out in an attempt to surpass China’s goal difference, scoring four more goals in six minutes after removing their goalkeeper.
India earned 11 penalty corners during the match, and coach Harendra Singh expressed satisfaction with both the number of opportunities and the conversions. “The team played with intent, and the penalty corner execution was on point today,” he remarked.
In other games, Malaysia secured their first points of the tournament with a historic 2-1 win over Korea, their first victory against the higher-ranked team in an international competition. Meanwhile, China edged past Japan 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten streak and top position on the table.
India will look to carry their momentum forward as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead in the tournament. With their potent attacking lineup firing on all cylinders, they remain strong contenders for the title.
Results:
– Malaysia 2 (Zati Muhamad, Nur Mohammed) bt Korea 1 (Eunbi Cheon)
– China 2 (Lihang Wang 2) bt Japan 1 (Hanami Saito)
– India 13 (Deepika 5, Preeti Dubey 2, Lalremsiami 2, Beauty Dung Dung 2, Manisha Chauhan 2) bt Thailand 0
