Times Of India

BOSTON: Rani Devi shone with a hat-trick as India blanked Belarus 6-0 to top their pool and qualify for the medal league second round of the

Junior Women’s World Cup hockey tournament.

The Indians, who had upset favourites Australia in their previous Group D fixture, now top their pool with six points followed by the Aussies and USA.

India will now play USA in their last preliminary pool game on Thursday.

Roselin Dung Dung (16th), Poonam Rani (38th), Ritu Rani (51st) scored the first three goals for India before Rani Devi (53rd, 54th and 58th min) went on a scoring spree as the Indians scored five times in the second session for a facile win.

The match began on a cautious note with largely midfield play, India took territorial supremacy, pushing action in the Belarus end, as the first half progressed.

Dung Dung gave India the lead in the 16th minute off skipper Ranjita Devi’s set up which she nailed past Belarus goalkeeper Veranika Mikanovich.

Belarus’ attempts for an equaliser were thwarted by an alert Indian defence and a penalty corner was aborted by goalie Jasdeep Kaur late in the first half.

India totally dominated the second half as their forwards shed off their markers and tore open the Belarus defence with consummate ease.

Poonam Rani scored the second goal three minutes into the second half with a crisp volley past defender Kibkova and Mikanovich.

Ritu Rani then increased India’s tally when she converted a penalty corner in the 51st minute.

The Indian attacks had no answer from Belarus as Rani Devi went on plunder mode scoring a hat-trick shortly after.

Belarus substituted their goalkeeper, bringing in Yauheniya Letsko, but Rani Devi was simply unstoppable as she pumped in three goals in a space of six minutes.