Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 4 (ANI): India girls’s hockey staff stormed into the ultimate of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 after overpowering South Korea 2-0 within the semifinals conflict on the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi on Saturday.
Salima Tete (11′) and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (19′) scored the objectives for India. India will face defending champions Japan, who beat China within the different semifinal match, within the summit conflict on Sunday.
Placed No. 12 on the planet, South Korea, essentially the most profitable staff in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey with three titles, got here out all weapons blazing within the first couple of minutes, placing the Indian defence beneath pressure.
After weathering the early storm, India, ranked seventh on the planet, flicked the change and went on the offensive. India had a number of probabilities, with Navneet Kaur coming inside inches of giving her staff the lead within the fourth minute.
India, who defeated South Korea 5-0 of their final group encounter on Friday, had been clearly the dominant facet within the first quarter and rightly took the lead with native woman Salima Tete scoring following a beautiful staff play that originated within the Indian half.
In the second quarter, India maintained their fast-passing strategy and generated quite a few alternatives. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke’s penalty nook doubled India’s benefit across the 20-minute mark.
The Indian girls’s hockey staff slowed the sport and managed the tempo with a two-goal lead. Korea tried to spice up the ante in pursuit of a purpose, however the Indian defence and midfield labored fluidly collectively to maintain them at bay. India led 2-0 on the finish of the primary quarter.
With India sitting again within the second half, the Koreans had a better share of possession. In the third quarter, the Koreans gained three penalty corners to India’s one. The Indian hockey staff’s defence held on to a two-goal lead and completed the sport to go to the ultimate. India have solely gained the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey title as soon as earlier than, in 2016. (ANI)