Women Asian Champions Trophy 2023: India's fifth win, created history by defeating Korea 5-0
Women Asian Champions Trophy 2023: With this victory, the Indian team topped the points table by earning 15 points from five matches. Meanwhile, Korea finished their campaign in fourth place in the group stage with seven points from five matches. As per the standings, both teams will meet once again in the semi-finals.
The Indian women's hockey team continued its unbeaten run in the Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy with an impressive 5-0 win against Korea in its last pool match on Thursday. Salima Tete (6', 36'), Navneet Kaur (36'), Vandana Kataria (49'), and Neha (60') scored for India as they maintained their unbeaten run in the competition.
With this victory, the Indian team secured the top position in the points table by earning 15 points from five matches. Meanwhile, Korea finished their campaign in fourth place in the group stage with seven points from five matches. As per the standings, both teams will meet once again in the semi-finals.
India will face Korea in the second semi-final of the tournament on November 4. Like their previous matches, India started the game with an aggressive high-pressing strategy and consistent attacks, which led to an early advantage. In the opening moments of the match, Salima Tete (6'), who was unmarked inside the circle, beautifully scored a goal, giving the hosts an early lead.
India continued to attack aggressively by continuously entering the circle. Although the team came close to scoring the second goal on several occasions, it failed to capitalize on those opportunities. India maintained a 1-0 lead till the completion of the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, like the first quarter, India maintained its dominance and made quick passes to keep Korea on the defensive. India also managed to earn two penalty corners in this period, but could not capitalize on them as the teams were 1-0 ahead of the hosts at the half-time break.
Determined to get back into the game, Korea attacked aggressively in the third quarter and even got on target on a few occasions with potential equalizers. Nevertheless, India turned the tables with a swift counter-attack and established their dominance.
Their persistence paid off when they were awarded a penalty corner, following which Navneet Kaur (36') fired a powerful shot into the back of the net. Moments later, Salima Tete (36') displayed her prowess with a remarkable field goal, taking India's lead to 3–0, which lasted till the end of the final quarter.
In the last quarter, India continued to challenge the Korean defense despite having a good lead. Their determination paid off as Vandana Kataria (49') made India's lead 4-0 with a brilliant flick. To add to the emphatic win, Neha (60') scored a field goal in the dying moments of the match, sealing a resounding 5-0 win for the Indian team.
