Hockey: India thrash Singapore 12-0 in women's Asia Cup
Navneet (14’, 20’, 28’) and Mumtaz (2’, 32’, 39’) led the charge, while Neha struck twice (11’, 38’). Lalremsiami (13’), Udita (29’), Sharmila (45’) and Rutuja Pisal (53’) also found the net in another all-round display.
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HANGZHOU: Navneet Kaur and Mumtaz Khan produced scintillating hat-tricks as India stormed into the Super 4s of the Women’s Asia Cup with a commanding 12-0 win over Singapore on Monday.
Navneet (14’, 20’, 28’) and Mumtaz (2’, 32’, 39’) led the charge, while Neha struck twice (11’, 38’). Lalremsiami (13’), Udita (29’), Sharmila (45’) and Rutuja Pisal (53’) also found the net in another all-round display.
World No 10 India, coming off an 11-0 thrashing of Thailand in their opener, broke the deadlock within two minutes when Mumtaz unleashed a thunderous reverse hit from the top of the circle. Neha quickly doubled the advantage in the 11th minute, pouncing on a rebound, before Lalremsiami’s close-range effort made it 3-0.
Navneet converted from a penalty corner in the 14th minute, capping a four-goal first quarter for the defending champions. Singapore showed some resistance in the second quarter but Navneet’s powerful strike extended the lead to 5-0. She then completed her hat-trick off another penalty corner in the 28th minute, followed by Udita’s composed finish that gave India a 7-0 cushion at half-time.
India’s relentless attack continued after the restart. Lalremsiami set up Mumtaz for her second in the 32nd minute, before Neha struck again from a penalty corner. Mumtaz then sealed her own hat-trick in the 39th minute to make it 10-0.
Sharmila added her name to the scoresheet with a rebound in the 45th minute after India earned their 12th penalty corner of the night. The rout was completed in the 53rd minute when Rutuja Pisal deflected home to register her first goal of the tournament.
Despite pushing forward in search of a consolation strike, Singapore rarely troubled the Indian defence, which remained largely untested.
The emphatic victory saw India finish the group stage with 23 goals from two matches and no goals conceded, underlining their credentials as one of the favourites for the continental crown.
India will now look to carry this momentum into the Super 4s, where tougher challenges await in their pursuit of the Asia Cup title and qualification for next year’s FIH World Cup.
