KUALA LUMPUR: With their eyes firmly set on a berth in next year’s World Cup, Indian women started the eighth Asia Cup hockey tournament campaign on a rollicking note, spanking minnows Hong Kong 13-0 in their opening Pool A match on Saturday.
Knowing well that only a win in this tournament would secure a ticket to next year’s World Cup to be held from 31 May to 14 June 2014 at the The Hague, Netherlands, the Indian women meant business from the onset and scored goals at will against the hapless Hong Kong side to boost their morale ahead of tough games.
The Indians toyed with Hong Kong defence and scored as many as nine goals in the first half and four after the change of ends.
For India, star striker Rani (2nd minute, 6th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 34th and 58th) scored as many as seven goals, Vandana Katariya (13th, 18th, 39th) three goals, while Poonam Rani (69th) and Joydeep Kaur (70th) found the opposition net once each.
The Indians will play nimble-footed Chinese girls in their next pool match on Sunday followed by the last league engagement against hosts Malaysia on September 24.