India women beat China to win Asia Cup after 13 years, qualify for World Cup

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Nov 5, 2017 (PTI): Indian hockey eves beat China 5-4 in the final of 2017 Women’s Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan via penalty shoo-out to emulate their male counterparts. The win helped India complete a rare double in the continental competitions.

In a cagey final encounter at Gifu Hockey Stadium, both the sides failed to score in the first quarter, but Navjot Kaur gave India the all-important lead with a brilliant field goal in the 25th minute.

Playing in their fourth Asia Cup final, India did well to keep tournament’s leading scorer Zhong Jiaqi quite, but Tiantian Luo converted a late penalty corner in the 47th minute.

After 60 minutes of play, the scoreline remained 1-1, thus forcing a penalty shoot-out.

Even in the shoot-out, both the sides failed to break the deadlock at 4-4. Then, in the sudden death, captain Rani Rampal scored for India, while Liang Meiyu failed for China to give India a 5-4 win.

In the process, India also exacted sweet revenge over the two-time champions. India lost to China in the 2009 edition final.

Rani, Monika Malik, Navjot Kaur and Limina Minz scored but Navneet Kaur failed in the shoot-outs.

The title came after a long gap of 13 years. The win also helped India qualify 2018 World Cup in England as the continental champions.

Last month, Indian men’s team Malaysia 2-1 in the Asia Cup final in Dhaka.

India eves remained unbeaten in the tournament. In the pool stage, India beat Singapore 10-0, China 4-1 and Malaysia 2-0. In the quarter-final, India thrashed Kazakhstan 7-1 before beating defending champions Japan 4-2.

Indians scored 28 goals in the tournament.

South Korea are the only other team to achieve this feat. They won both men’s and women’s Asia Cup in 1994.