National stadium in Delhi has been seen a beehive of women tournaments. India certainly had its moments of joy here on the historic turf.

Indian women won their first Asia Cup here exactly in February 2004.

Given below is the recap of that golden victory that ensured India for the 2006 World Cup. The recap has been taken from Hockey Year Book 2006 written and published by me.

When India hosted the Asia Cup for the first time in 1999, a South Korean golden goal denied them the title as well as direct entry to the 2002 World Cup in Perth. For the Korean ladies, it was a third success in four attempts at the continent’s premier championship. Four years later India again staged the next edition in the same city on the very same National Stadium turf.

This time the Indian women made no mistake. Showing tremendous improvement, despite a sluggish start, the hosts denied the nippy Japanese forwards – who has amassed 46 goals in four matches till then — any room to manoeuvre in the final.

Led by seasoned campaigner Surajlata Devi, India won their maiden Asia Cup with a 1-0 victory scored by the babe of the team, 17-year young Jasjeet Kaur in the 64th minute. The Indian defence stood like the Rock of Gibraltar to successfully defend half-a-dozen penalty corners out of 10 — the last taken after the hooter. As a fitting gesture, the ever improving Indian goalkeeper Helen Mary was declared the best player of the tournament and Jasjeet Kaur, the most promising player. For M.K. Kaushik, an Olympic gold medallist and coach of the side, it was an eventful three months. Kaushik, a lively right-winger in his day, guided the team to a second gold medal, just three months after the Afro-Asian Games success.

But India started shakily, conceding two goals in the opener against Malaysia trained by compariot C.R. Kumar. But the hosts recovered to win 4-2. India were then held 1-1 by China devoid of stars such as goalkeeper Nie Ya Li and striker Fu Faorang. India engaged inexperienced Kazakhstan in their last pool match half an hour after the China-Malaysia match commenced on the other pitch.

Suspense pervaded either pitch as both India and China aspired to top the pool so as to avoid Japan in the semi-finals. Both sides collected seven points each and goal difference came into play. Calculators ready in hand, journalists shuttled between the pitches. China led 1-0 at half-time and on resumption, their forwards let loose.

Though China led 1-0 at lemon timloose to overwhelm a Malaysian 7-1. India, needing then to win by a clear seven-goal margin, did one better. They battered the hapless Kazakhs 8-0 to finish pool winners and more importantly, avoid Japan in the semi-finals.
Surinder Kaur, Sanggai Ihembal Chanu, the darling of the crowd all through the tournament, and tribal star Adline Kerketta all played the part, slamming in two goals each. On to the semis and India, pitted against the defending champions South Korea, scored an easy 5-0 win. At half-time just a goal separated the teams but the South Koreans, also depleted of stars, ran out of steam in the second half.
Japan duly made the final, outplaying China 6-2 in another lopsided encounter. The Chinese grabbed the bronze medal, winning the tie-breaker after the contest meandered to the penalty-stroke duel following a goalless regulation and extra-time period. Penalty strokes also decided fifth place, Kazakhstan pipping Malaysia after a 1-1 scoreline after extra-time.