K. ARUMUGAM

Sushila Chanu’s experience, Sangita Kumari’s energy and Deepika & Salima Tete’s enterprise combined in time to give India a comfortable 3-0 win over fighting Chinese in the penultimate pool match of the Bihar Asian Women’s Champions Trophy here in Rajgir. With fourth win in as many as matches, India tops the pool.

Having already qualified for the semis, India has another match today against Japan. We will use the match in preparation for the semis, said Chief Coach Harendra Singh.

Indians were a dominating side ab initio but goals were hard to come by till half time. The 4000 plus crowd was restive and losing patience. A masterpiece slap from Sushila 2 minutes after lemon time changed all. Young Sangita applied the stick in time to deflect it to home, all in a spilt second. The electric goal is a master class goal, which later Chief Coach Harendra Singh too agreed. Once the goal jinx is broken it was only time the Indian onslaught brings more fruits.
It did.

India took the initiative right from the starting whistle, with Deepika earning a penalty corner within seconds of the whistle. She attempted a powerful flick towards goal, but China’s goalkeeper Surong Wu made a strong save. India dictated the tempo with slick passes and clever movement, while China could only manage occasional counter-attacks. Five minutes into the quarter, Sharmila picked up the ball at half line and drove towards the shooting circle. She passed to Sunelita, who quickly found Deepika, but the onrushing keeper thwarted her attempt. As China grew into the game and regained some territory, neither team managed to break down the other’s defense, and the first quarter ended goalless.
China had the first chance in the second quarter on a counter-attack. Chencheng Liu blazed the ball across goal, causing Indian keeper Bichu to scramble, but no one was on hand to poke the ball in. India endured and earned a penalty corner five minutes into the quarter, but Udita’s shot was easily stopped. The next chance fell to China’s Yanan Xu, who attempted a reverse tomahawk from the left wing, but her shot found the side netting. India responded by earning another penalty corner, but they too failed to convert. The game became more end-to-end, with neither team willing to give an inch, and the deadlock continued into the second half.
India stepped it up a gear in the third quarter. Deepika seized a mispass high up the pitch and found Lalremsiami alone at the center of the shooting circle, but her first-time shot was easily swatted away. Undeterred, India regained possession, and Sushila fired a deceptive pass from the back line to Sangita Kumari, who quickly reacted to deflect the rocket pass into the goal, breaking the deadlock. Five minutes later, Preeti Dubey embarked on a marauding drive along the baseline and passed to an unmarked Salima Tete, who made a late run into the circle and simply pushed the ball into the goal, doubling India’s lead. Despite a few more threats to score in the rest of the quarter, both teams couldn’t find the finishing touch.
China wrestled more possession in the final quarter in search of their first goal, but India showcased exemplary defense and remained composed on the ball. With five minutes left in the game, Sunelita Toppo unleashed a powerful shot towards goal, but it was swatted away. China quickly picked up the ball to hunt for a goal on the counter, but Bichu was alert to avert any danger. In a bid to peg India back and further bolster their attacking prowess, China took off their keeper with three minutes left in the game. However, India held firm and initiated a counter in the last minute, resulting in a penalty corner. Without a keeper in goal, Deepika stepped up and unleashed a powerful drag flick, sealing the match at 3-0 in India’s favour.

Photo: Hockey India