This was at all times going to be the match the place the floodgates opened for India because the Salima Tete-led aspect was taking part in Thailand, the lowest-ranked workforce on the Girls’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir. India had by no means misplaced to Thailand and the latter had already been handed a 15-0 thrashing by a second-string Chinese language aspect earlier this week.
Therefore, there have been few surprises as Deepika led the best way with 5 targets, whereas three gamers scored twice every as India produced a relentless efficiency to win 13-0 on Thursday.
With the plain caveat that India had their best match on paper, it was nonetheless an attacking show that happy head coach Harendra Singh. He has been stressing on a couple of features over the previous couple of weeks – first contact contained in the circle, creating 1v1 conditions throughout the sphere, and penalty nook conversion – and so they clicked into place.
She got here, She noticed, She conquered#BiharWACTRajgir2024 #IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #WomensAsianChampionsTrophy #THAvIND
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@Limca_Official@CocaCola@asia_hockey@BSSABihar pic.twitter.com/neE2MsvaCB— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 14, 2024
“I particularly favored the connection between the defenders and attacking midfielders,” Harendra mentioned after the match. “More often than not, we tried to create the 1v1 conditions, that’s our superiority and I really feel that’s the essence of Indian hockey. When you might have so many quick midfielders – Salima (Tete), Sharmila (Devi), Sunelita (Toppo), Lalremsiami – we must always not maintain that energy again.”
Deepika began the scoring within the third minute when she expertly managed a drilled lengthy go into the circle by Jyoti from the best flank, took a few touches together with her again to the purpose, made house, and rifled a backhanded strike by means of Thailand goalkeeper Siraya Yimkrajang.
Preeti Dubey, on her return to the nationwide aspect after final taking part in in 2017, swept residence India’s second after a pointy mixture of passes between Sunelita and Sangita. Then it was Siami’s flip to carry one from shut vary off a rebound as India scored three within the opening quarter to set the tempo. Deepika made it 4-0 early in Q2 with a advantageous back-to-the-goal strike. India’s first 4 strikes have been all area targets.
One of many areas of concern has been penalty nook conversion, and after squandering the primary three, India managed to transform the fourth on the stroke of half time. It wasn’t the clearest of direct makes an attempt however Siami’s strike led to a goalmouth scramble from which Magnificence Dungdung lifted one over Siraya.
Second-half flurry
After a 10-minute lull firstly of the second half, the flurry restarted. Preeti scored arguably the perfect area purpose of the day, as she acquired a superb by means of ball from Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, and managed it in her stride to beat the onrushing goalkeeper, calmly passing the ball into an empty web. It was the type of speedy give-and-go transfer that Harendra has been asking for.
If that was the best passing transfer, India’s subsequent purpose was an ideal penalty nook execution. Deepika had been pissed off from set-pieces to this point on this event, however lastly nailed a direct effort on purpose, excessive to the custodian’s proper. It introduced out the largest smile on Harendra’s face on the sidelines. Deepika’s fourth and fifth targets got here inside a matter of minutes, and the latter was one other well-executed drag-flick, this time low to the goalkeeper’s proper.
“The coach has centered rather a lot on my footwork throughout drag- flicks. I nonetheless should get higher at it, and ending as properly. However ever since Harendra sir has come, he has carried out further periods with me on drag-flicks and it’s helped with the drive of the photographs,” the 20-year-old from Haryana mentioned later.
💥 A dominant efficiency by Bharat Ki Sherniyan 💥
Group India delivers a press release win with a sensational 13-0 victory over Thailand on the Bihar Girls’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024.
Watch the highlights as our fierce warriors placed on an unforgettable present, thrilling… pic.twitter.com/4hN53SzKAG
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 14, 2024
Harendra had informed this every day earlier than the event that Deepika has adjusted her method but in addition talked about he hoped Manisha Chauhan too comes good from set-pieces. That occurred within the closing quarter as she scored her first senior worldwide purpose together with her first drag-flick within the event. She would make it two shortly with a close-range end. In between these targets, Navneet Kaur added her identify to the scoresheet as properly whereas Siami scored India’s twelfth.
One of many features Harendra highlighted on the finish was how the workforce wished to make Siami’s night time particular.
“On her a hundred and fiftieth look, Siami scored a few targets, and the workforce is proud of that. These are the issues that assist a workforce bond: one thing to have fun. We determined we might get Siami on the scoresheet right this moment and we have been capable of execute that on an important day,” he mentioned.
With the win, India stay stage with China on 9 factors, however the latter is prime of the desk on purpose distinction given their higher successful margins to this point. It has arrange an interesting conflict between the table-toppers on Saturday. India will take some confidence into that match after producing their most coordinated attacking show to this point in Bihar.
