Vandana Kataria & Deep Grace Ekka Shine as India Dominates Pool A, Secures a Spot in Semi-finals

In a commanding display of skill and teamwork, the Indian women's hockey team stormed to victory, defeating Hong Kong with a resounding score of 13-0 in their final pool match at the Asian Games. The victory propelled India into the semi-finals of the women's hockey competition, setting the stage for a potential medal triumph.

Experienced striker Vandana Kataria played a pivotal role in India's remarkable win, securing a hat-trick with goals in the 2nd, 16th, and 48th minutes through field plays. Vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka showcased her prowess, contributing significantly with a hat-trick of her own, finding the back of the net in the 11th, 34th, and 42nd minutes, including a successful penalty corner conversion.

Sangeeta Kumari, displaying remarkable finesse, managed to score in the 27th and 55th minutes, while Monika and Navneet Kaur also made their mark by scoring goals in the 7th and 58th minutes, respectively. With this victory, India solidified their position at the top of Pool A, accumulating 10 points from four matches, with a superior goal average in comparison to South Korea, who have seven points with one match remaining. The semi-finals await India, where they will face the second-placed team from Pool B on Thursday.

Right from the opening moments of the match, the Indian team exhibited dominance, swiftly notching up six goals in the initial two quarters and adding seven more in the latter half of the game. Vandana's early goal in the 2nd minute, followed by Deepika's counter-attack strike, set the tone for India's relentless offensive.

Monica and Deep Grace further extended India's lead, showcasing their attacking prowess. Deep Grace's hat-trick, which included two successful penalty conversions, and Vandana's field goals added to the scoring spree. Deepika's precision in converting penalty corners and contributions from Sangeetha and Navneet propelled India to a commanding victory, demonstrating their strength and determination on the field. With this exceptional performance, the Indian women's hockey team has not only secured a place in the semi-finals but has also raised hopes of a remarkable journey in the Asian Games.