Kakamigahara, 20 September (H.S.): The Indian women’s hockey team made a spectacular start to their campaign at the Asian Games 2026, thrashing Uzbekistan 19-0 in their opening Pool B match in Kakamigahara.

Deepika was the star of India’s emphatic victory, scoring eight goals on her own to make the contest completely one-sided. Ishika completed a hat-trick, while a total of eight different Indian players found the net. Experienced goalkeeper Savita also achieved a significant personal milestone during the match, equalling the record for the most international appearances by an Indian women’s hockey player.

India did not have to wait long to take the lead. In the seventh minute, Lalremsiami opened the scoring with a field goal. Just a minute later, Deepika scored to make it 2-0. Ishika then added India’s third goal in the 11th minute.

Baljeet Kaur made it 4-0 in the 12th minute. The goal also marked her 50th senior international appearance for India. By the end of the first quarter, India had established a commanding 4-0 lead.

The Indian team continued its attacking approach in the second quarter. Neha scored in the 18th minute to extend India’s lead to 5-0. India were awarded a penalty corner in the 22nd minute, and Deepika made no mistake in converting the opportunity.

Navneet Kaur added another goal in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later, in the 25th minute, Deepika converted another penalty corner to score her third goal of the match. India went into half-time with a massive 8-0 lead, leaving Uzbekistan with little opportunity to respond to the relentless Indian attack.

Deepika then produced a goal-scoring spree in the third quarter. She scored four consecutive goals between the 33rd and 41st minutes, taking her personal tally to seven. Her outstanding performance put the Uzbek defence under immense pressure.

In the 42nd minute, Ishika scored her second goal. A minute later, Lalthantluangi and Sakshi Rana also found the net to further extend India’s advantage. Just before the end of the third quarter, Navneet Kaur scored her second goal of the match. India entered the final quarter with a commanding 16-0 lead.

The Indian team maintained its attacking approach in the final quarter as well. In the 51st minute, India were awarded a penalty stroke, which Lalthantluangi converted. Ishika completed her hat-trick in the 54th minute with her third goal, and in the same minute Deepika scored her eighth goal to make it 19-0.

India then closed out the match at 19-0, making a resounding start to their Asian Games campaign.

Following their emphatic victory over Uzbekistan, the Indian women’s hockey team will face Indonesia in their next Pool B match.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar