The Indian Women’s Hockey team’s dominating run culminated with the Asian Champions Trophy title. Playing in front of the home crowd at Ranchi, the Savita Punia-led side crushed defending champions Japan 4-0 in the final on Sunday, 5th November 2023. This is India’s second title in the continental tournament.
Sangita Kumari (17th minute), Neha (46th), Laremsiami (57th) and Vandana Katariya (60th) were the goal-scorers in the goal-scorers in the match. India’s last title at the Asian Champions Trophy came way back in 2016 in Singapore.
Indians started to attack right from the word go in the contest. They were dominating the possession and even got chances to score. However the opportunities went begging as the first quarter came to an end without any goal from both the teams.
In the second quarter, the Indians continued to dominate the possession. Two minutes into the second quarter, India took the lead. Sangita got on to the scoresheet with a high hit after being fed by Neha Goyal.
The Japanese came back with a response by finding the net soon. But the goal was disallowed after a successful referral by India for a body contact when the ball was received. The Japanese continued to attack. In the 25th minute, Japan secured three back-to-back penalty corners. But the Indians defended to deny their opponents.
India scored three in the second half
It was a neck-and-neck fight between the two teams after the change of ends with both India and Japan pressing hard for goals. But goals eluded them in the third quarter as the defence of both the sides were up to the task.
The Indians came out all guns blazing in the fourth quarter and pressed hard on the Japanese goal, and their efforts bore fruit. A minute into the fourth quarter, India secured three consecutive penalty corners. Neha scored from Deep Grace’s hit.
India continued to put pressure on the Japanese defence, which resulted in success when in the 57th minute Lalremsiami scored from a rebound after Udita’s initial strike from a penalty corner was saved by the Japanese keeper. Just before the final hooter, Vandana registered her name in the score sheet, scoring a fine field goal as the Indians recorded an emphatic victory.
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