India continues to shine in the women’s hockey competition, securing their fourth consecutive victory by defeating hosts Japan 3-1 on Friday. This win brings them closer to a spot in the semifinals. Lalremsiami opened the scoring for India just five minutes into the match, and Ishika Chaudhary doubled their lead just before half-time.
In the second half, Navneet Kaur extended India’s advantage six minutes in. Japan managed to pull one goal back through Shiho Kobayakawa late in the game. India will finish their Pool B matches against Singapore on Sunday.
The team’s strong performance has been notable since the start of the tournament. India kicked off the competition with an overwhelming 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan, followed by a 17-1 win against Indonesia, and a 20-1 thrashing of Thailand, placing them firmly at the top of their group.
India wasted no time asserting their dominance against Japan, with Lalremsiami scoring early in the fifth minute. The team maintained their offensive, although Japan’s defense held steady under pressure.
While Japan created a few chances of their own, they found it difficult to break through India’s solid defense. India’s execution of penalty corners was a bit shaky initially, converting only one of their first five attempts. However, they earned three more penalty corners towards the end of the first half. Ishika managed to score from a rebound after Navneet’s shot was blocked.
The momentum carried into the third quarter, where Navneet scored a fantastic goal in the 36th minute, showcasing her skill and putting India three goals ahead. During this period, India’s defense excelled, consistently halting Japan’s advances and limiting their chances.
Japan finally got onto the scoreboard in the 46th minute when Kobayakawa scored with a strong strike from the top of the circle, finding a way past veteran goalkeeper Savita. India had another chance with a penalty corner shortly after, but they could not convert. Japan also had a late opportunity to score, but India’s defense remained steadfast, ensuring the victory and another win for the team.
