Kakamigahara (Japan): The Indian women’s hockey team recorded their third successive win in the Asia Cup, beating Malaysia 2-0 in the final pool game here Tuesday. Two late goals by Vandana Katariya (54th minute) and Gurjit Kaur (55) helped the Women in Blue top their pool with an all-win record.
It was rather a drab affair with ‘caution’ being the strategy adopted by both sides. With Malaysia playing defensive hockey, India waited patiently without making any unforced errors.
Having ended the first quarter in a stalemate, Malaysia then earned their first penalty corner early into the second. However, an alert Rajani Etimarpu under the Indian bar made a brilliant save. The game achieved some speed with India earning one and Malaysia two penalty corners in succession. However, all were wasted.
After a barren third quarter, the match sprung into life in the final 15 minutes with the Indian eves suddenly shedding their defensive coats.
Katariya put India ahead when she scored a sensational field goal by breaking down the right inside. She dribbled past two defenders and hit the boards with a rasping drive from the top of the ‘D’. A minute later it was 2-0 as drag-flicker Gurjit scored with an uppish drive.
Malaysia made desperate attempts in the dying minutes of the match but the Indian defence held sway to help India emerge victorious.
Press Trust of India
