s2h team

Meeting South Korea successively second time after outplaying them in the league, India today overcame improved rival 2-0 in the semifinal. Savita’s team put up a sterling display once again in front of full stands and amidst festive atmosphere to set aside the Korean challenge, and in the process winning all six matches.

India beat the Koreans 5-0 in its last pool match on Thursday.

Salima Tete gave a finishing touch to a long team effort to give India the lead after set up by vastly improved Lalremsiami, who controlled the right wing like a women possessed. The 11th minute beauty was  followed by a penalty corner rebound by Vaishani — who came into the team after Sonika suffered a head butt in the previous match — off a hit from vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka.

However, India could not push the scoreboard further as the Koreans showed vast improvement as time wore on. Over all, India got seven penalty corners, could make use only one which went to the stick of Vaishanavi.

Koreans were faster and precise after half time when India had faced huge challenges. However, the defence of Udita, Grace and Nikki rose to the occasion to ward off many attacks of the former giants Korea.

Earlier in the last quarter, harried teams kept the umpires busy. India got two yellow card suspensions (Jyoti and Vandana) while China once, all in the last ten minutes. Despite playing with only nine players, India did not concede a goal, though a couple of penalty corners.

In the first semifinal, the Asian Games gold medal winning team China had bit the dust to Japan. Coached by the Indian import Jude Menezes, Japan showed enough pace and patience to merge the victors.

India and Japan, who played at Hangzhou for the bronze, will again play for the Sunday final.

Since inception in 2011, WACT was played on Round Robin format with top four teams playing for the medals. Semifinal was introduced only now.

If not, India-China, who came first and second in the points table would have played the final. Now, the third placed Japan made use of the new provision to enter the final.