India secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over South Korea on Tuesday in their second group-stage match of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Ranchi. With this win, the hosts continued their strong start to the competition, having defeated Malaysia 4-0 in their opener on Monday.  

India came out strong, with Sangita Kumari giving them an early lead in the third minute. Deepika doubled the advantage in the 20th minute, putting India firmly in control by halftime. 

However, South Korea staged a spirited comeback in the third quarter. Yuri Lee struck in the 34th minute, and captain Eunbi Cheon leveled the score four minutes later, setting up a tense final quarter.  

The decisive moment came in the 57th minute when India was awarded a penalty stroke. Deepika, already a key performer in the match, calmly converted, sealing a hard-fought win for the hosts.  

India’s back-to-back victories have set a positive tone for their campaign. Their defensive solidity and attacking efficiency were on full display in the opener against Malaysia, and they showed resilience in overcoming South Korea’s challenge.  

Deepika, who has been instrumental in both matches, praised the team’s fighting spirit. “It was a tough game, but we believed in ourselves and stuck to the plan,” she said after the match.  

In other matches on Tuesday, Thailand held Japan to a 1-1 draw in a closely contested game. Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallists China dominated Malaysia with a commanding 5-0 win, marking their second consecutive victory in the tournament.  

India will face Thailand on Thursday in their third group-stage match. With two wins in as many games, the hosts will look to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in the tournament.