In a thrilling showdown at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, the Indian Women's Hockey Team delivered a resounding 4-0 victory over reigning champions Japan, seizing the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in style. This victory marked India's second title in this prestigious tournament.
Sangita Kumari (17′), Neha (46′), Lalremsiami (57′), and Vandana Katariya (60′) all found the back of the net for India.
Hockey India recognized the team's exceptional performance by announcing a reward of Rs 3.00 Lakhs for each player and Rs 1.50 Lakhs for each member of the support staff.
India started the match aggressively, much like their previous encounter with Japan in the Pool stage. They applied relentless pressure, seeking to unsettle the reigning champions. The home team made an early attempt at the goal, with Deepika narrowly missing a scoring opportunity.
Despite their continued offensive efforts, Japan's solid defence held firm, and the first quarter ended goalless.
However, India's determination paid off in the second quarter when Sangita (17′) scored a fantastic goal, giving her team the lead. Japan countered and even appeared to score, but a video referral revealed a handball, disallowing the goal.
Japan earned several penalty corners, but India's defence remained steadfast, and the hosts entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The third quarter saw India intensifying their offensive, but Japan's defence held strong. Both teams had their moments, but no goals were scored, and India maintained their 1-0 lead.
In the fourth quarter, India extended their lead to 2-0 through a goal by Neha (46′) from a penalty corner. Japan had a penalty stroke opportunity but was denied by India's captain, Savita.
In the closing moments, Lalremsiami (57′) and Vandana Katariya (60′) added two more goals, sealing a remarkable 4-0 victory for India.
Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr Dilip Tirkey congratulated the team for their outstanding performance and commitment to the sport, expressing pride in their achievements. Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh also extended hearty congratulations and hailed the team's tenacity and teamwork as a source of inspiration for young players nationwide.
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