Mumtaz Khan (7’, 49’), Udita (30’, 52’) and Beauty Dung Dung (45’, 54’) netted two goals each, while Sangita Kumari (10’), Navneet Kaur (16’), Lalremsiami (18’), Sharmila Devi (57’) and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (60’) also found their names on the scoresheet.
Photo: IANS
The Indian women’s hockey team made a resounding start to their Asia Cup 2025 campaign, thrashing Thailand 11-0 in their Pool B opener at Hangzhou, China, on Friday.
Mumtaz Khan (7’, 49’), Udita (30’, 52’) and Beauty Dung Dung (45’, 54’) netted two goals each, while Sangita Kumari (10’), Navneet Kaur (16’), Lalremsiami (18’), Sharmila Devi (57’) and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (60’) also found their names on the scoresheet.
Advertisement
The Salima Tete-led world No.9-ranked side asserted control right from the start, with Mumtaz and Sangita scoring early field goals inside the opening 10 minutes. Navneet and Lalremsiami struck in quick succession in the second quarter, before Udita converted a penalty corner to give India a 5-0 cushion at half-time.
Advertisement
The third quarter saw India keep the pressure on, with Beauty Dung Dung scoring from a penalty corner. The final quarter turned into a goal rush, as India added five more with Mumtaz, Udita and Sharmila striking from set-pieces, while Beauty and Rutuja added field goals to seal the emphatic victory.
India, who won the Women’s Asia Cup in 2004 and 2017, will next take on the defending champions Japan, in their second Pool B fixture on Saturday.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Super 4s stage, while the winner of the tournament secures direct qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
While the winners of the Asia Cup will earn a direct ticket to the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, slated to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, teams finishing second to fifth will head to the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers to be played early next year.
Advertisement
