Aichi-Nagoya, 23 September (H.S.): The Indian women’s hockey team continued its impressive run at the Asian Games with a resounding 20-1 victory over Thailand in their Pool B encounter on Wednesday. With the emphatic win at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, India registered its third consecutive double-digit victory and retained the top spot in the Pool B standings. India will next face Japan on Friday.

India had earlier defeated Uzbekistan 19-0 and Indonesia 17-1. Against Thailand, Deepika Sehrawat scored nine goals, while Navneet Kaur netted four and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added three. Neha, Lalremsiami, Sakshi Rana and captain Salima Tete also found the net once each.

All nine of Deepika’s goals came from penalty corners. She thus became the first Indian women’s hockey player to score nine goals in a single Asian Games match. Deepika has now scored 20 goals for India in three matches at the Games.

India dominated proceedings from the outset, maintaining relentless pressure on the Thai defence. The Indian players made effective use of penalty corners and kept complete control of the contest throughout.

Thailand finally managed to get on the scoresheet in the fourth quarter. Supansa Samanso’s drag-flick from a penalty corner took a slight deflection before finding its way into the Indian goal.

India won the bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which were held in 2023. The Indian women’s team is now aiming to win its first Asian Games gold since 1982. India won gold at the inaugural women’s hockey tournament at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar