Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Indian Team Ends League With Commanding Win
The Indian
Women’s hockey team ended the league stage with a comprehensive win over Japan
at Rajgir Sports Complex, Bihar on 17th November 2024. It was a dominating
performance by the Indian team right from the word go putting enough pressure
on the opponents and never allowing them a chance to make a comeback into the
game.
Both teams started
scrappy in the first five minutes of the game. After 8 minutes, India earned
their two back-to-back penalty corners. Both penalty corners were brilliantly saved
by Yu Kudo. Indian team kept the pressure, but the Japanese defense was solid
and did not allow any chances to convert goals. The hosts also earned another
penalty corner which was not trapped by Navneet Kaur. At the end of the first
quarter, the score remained 0-0.
Japan
started the second quarter with some possession but was not able to keep the
ball for long. Both teams’ defense looked solid, not allowing any chances of
goals. India earned another penalty corner as halting was not proper, but the shot
was well saved by Yu Kudo. Japan made attempts to penetrate the circle, but the
Indian defense remained solid. At the
end of the first half, the score remained 0-0. Indian team dominated the first
half with 8 circle penetrations as compared to 4 by Japan, the hosts dominated
the possession with 55 percent as compared to 45 by Japan.
It was an
aggressive start in the third quarter with good moves by Yu Kudo showed his
class with another superb save. Navneet Kaur hits a powerful reverse flick shot
from the D in the 36th minute to give India a 1-0 lead. Sharmila Devi
produced another lovely shot which was brilliantly saved by Yu Kudo. Neha was
awarded a green card meaning two-minute suspension. At the end of the third
quarter, India led 1-0.
Indian team
began the fourth quarter with 3 penalty corners. Deepika scored from the third
penalty corner as Kudo could not save in the 47th minute. Soon
after, Deepika scored from another penalty corner in the 48th minute
to make it 3-0. Japan decided to change the goalkeeper as Kudo made way for
Mizuki Mirota. It was a dominating performance by the Indian team as they
registered a 3-0 win to end the league stage with 15 points.
Indian team
dominated the match with 15 circle penetrations as compared to 7 by Japan. India
had 60 percent possession as compared to 40 by Japan. It was a dominating performance
as they did not allow any chances for the Japanese side. India’s defense looked
solid enough.
India will
face Japan in the semi-finals while the other semi-finals will see China take
on Malaysia on 19th November 2024. It promises to be a good contest
in the semi-finals. Malaysia defeated Thailand by 2-0 to qualify for the
semi-finals while China dumped out South Korea by 2-0.
Indian women's team beat Japan in the final league game of Asian Champions Trophy 2024
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