SPORTS

Jr women's hockey WC: India trounce Belarus

Source:PTI
August 05, 2009 15:02 IST

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 in the Junior Women's World Cup hockey tournament in Boston.

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

India play the United States in their last preliminary pool game on Thursday.

Roselin Dung Dung (16th minute), Poonam Rani (38th) and 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's attempts for an equaliser were thwarted by an alert Indian defence and a penalty-corner was aborted by goalkeeper 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.

Source: PTI
© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email