Indian Express

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 in Boston.

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.