Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup: India thrash Japan 7-0 to enter quarterfinals | Hockey News
The Indian junior women’s hockey team continued dominant run at the Asia Cup with a 7-0 win over Japan in their third Elite Pool match on Tuesday, securing a place in the quarterfinals.India now have nine points from three matches and sit at the top of the Elite Pool. They will face China in their final pool match on Wednesday, with the result set to decide the top spot. China have six points from two matches.India had started the tournament with a 4-1 win over Korea before beating Malaysia 11-1. They carried the same attacking approach into the match against Japan and took control early.Krishna Sharma opened the scoring in the fifth minute after India put Japan under pressure.India doubled their lead in the ninth minute when a foul by a Japanese defender inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke. Supriya converted it to make it 2-0.India added a third goal in the 14th minute when Purnima Yadav scored from open play. India ended the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.Japan came out with more attacking intent in the second quarter as they looked to get back into the match. India continued to create chances, but neither team scored before half-time.Japan again started the third quarter looking for their first goal, but India’s defence dealt with their attacks.India then scored three times in five minutes.Geeta Yadav scored a field goal in the 41st minute to make it 4-0. She added another in the 45th minute to complete her brace and extend India’s lead to 5-0.Purnima scored a minute later, finding the net in the 46th minute to complete her brace and put India 6-0 ahead at the end of the third quarter.India continued to attack in the final quarter and scored again in the 50th minute through Sanika Chandrakant Mane.Japan could not find a way back into the match as India saw out the remaining minutes to secure their third straight win and book their place in the quarterfinals.
