Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team scripted history with a record-breaking 19-0 victory over Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup on Thursday, securing a place in the semi-finals. Pakistan failed to score a single goal, making it India’s biggest-ever win in junior women’s hockey.
The defending champions completely dominated the contest, scoring 10 goals in the first half and adding nine more after the break. Pooja Malik starred with a hat-trick, while Sanika Chandrakant Mane, Madhu Sidar, Supriya and Roshni Aind scored two goals each.
India took control from the opening quarter itself, netting five goals through Pooja Sahu, Roshni Aind, Tanushree Dinesh Kadu, Sukhveer Kaur and Sanika Mane. The second quarter saw goals from Madhu Sidar, Geeta Yadav, Sanika Mane, Tanuja Toppo and Pooja Malik, giving India a commanding 10-0 lead at half-time.
Purnima Yadav, Madhu Sidar and Supriya added to the tally in the third quarter, while Krishna Sharma, Pooja Malik, Supriya, Binima Dhan and Roshni Aind scored in the final quarter. Malik completed her hat-trick with goals in the 49th and 51st minutes, while Roshni Aind struck India’s 19th goal in the final minute of the match.
India earned 18 penalty corners and one penalty stroke during the game, while Pakistan failed to win a single penalty corner or penalty stroke. Before the quarter-final, India had topped its group with wins over Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, while drawing 0-0 against China.
India will now face the winner of the quarter-final between South Korea and Malaysia in the semi-finals scheduled for September 12.
