Tournament favourites China beat a determined Indian side 4-2 in a highly charged pool A match played before a capacity crowd at Kings Park Hockey Ground to take pole position in the pool.
But it did not come easy as underdogs India played to their own strength and slowed the game down particularly in the first half. This tactic tended to unsettle China as the Indians matched the favourites for stickwork and hockey skills that brought 2 goals to India in the first session.
As expected China used their very definite pace and power advantage from the outset and opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a field goal scored by Li Hong Xia following a goalmouth melee.
But India were not long in replying after Surinder Kaur broke down the left hand side and beat the China defence with superb stickwork to put the ball on Jasjeet Kaur’s stick who made no mistake with her shot that levelled the scores in the 7th minute.
India’s best passge of play in the game then followed as the pace slowed to their liking. Also China missed several opportunities with 2 shots hitting the upright and then going out of play.
The partisan Indian crowd watching the game almost went ballistic when Saba Anjum netted India’s second goal from open play after Surinder Kaur made yet another run down the left to make the score 2-1 to India.
But the Chinese continued to use their superior pace and power and were rewarded in the 33rd minute when Tang Chun Ling converted a penalty corner to level the scores at 2 goals each as the teams went into the half time break.
After the resumption of play China continued to use their superior pace to advantage as the Indians showed signs of tiring. And in the 47th minute Zhou Wan Feng put China back into the lead when she converted a penalty corner.
Then Tang Chun Ling scored her second of the match from open play to put the issue beyond doubt and give China a well deserved 4-2 win.
India now face the formidable Koreans in Saturday’s first semi final with China up against Japan in the second.
Final score: China 4 India 2.
goal scorers: China: Tang Chung Ling 2, Li Hong Xia, Zhou Wan Feng
India: Jasjeet Kaur, Saba Anjum