Ranchi: The Indian women’s hockey team displayed a dominant performance to beat Japan 4-0 in the final of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Sunday. With this victory, India lifted their third Asian Champions Trophy title after 2016 and 2018.
India scored two goals in each half to seal the win. Sangeeta opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a brilliant field goal after a quick counter-attack. Japan had a chance to equalize in the 22nd minute when Kobayakawa Shiho found the net from a penalty corner, but the goal was disallowed after India asked for a video referral.
In the second half, India increased their lead through Neha, who converted a penalty corner in the 46th minute. Japan tried to reduce the gap and earned a penalty stroke in the 52nd minute, but Kana Urata’s attempt was brilliantly saved by Indian goalkeeper and captain Savita Punia.
India then scored two more goals in the last three minutes to complete the rout. Lalremsiami made it 3-0 in the 57th minute with a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner. Vandana Kataria added the fourth goal in the 60th minute with a fine reverse-stick finish from a tight angle.
The Indian team celebrated their triumph with joy and received the trophy from Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Hockey India also announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for each player and Rs 1.5 lakh for each support staff member of the winning team.
India had earlier defeated Japan 2-1 in both the league stage and the bronze medal match of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. China, who won the gold medal at the Asian Games, finished third in the Asian Champions Trophy by defeating South Korea 2-1 in the third-place playoff.
Savita Punia, who was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament, expressed her happiness after the win. “We are feeling very good right now. When we came here we were a little nervous because Japan is a very good team. Japan played very well. We played aggressively after halftime,” she said.
Jenneke Schopman, the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, also praised her team’s performance. “4-0 was never expected in the final. It was hard but we made it. The support here is really amazing. It was great to play here,” she said.
