Ritu Rani scores hat-trick as Indian eves post big win

Bangkok, June 29, 2012: India secured its second successive victory in the sixth Women’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey Championship with a thumping 9-0 verdict over Singapore in a Group A league match here on Thursday. Skipper Ritu Rani scored a hat-trick while vice-captain Poonam Rani also scored three goals as the team followed up its 15-0 win against Sri Lanka.

Vandana Katariya scored off a sixth minute penalty corner to open the scoring. Seven minutes later, fellow forward Anupa Barla increased the lead with a field goal. Poonam Rani scored off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute while Lily Chanu Mayengam added a field goal just before the break to ensure that India held a 4-0 lead.

Poonam Rani pumped in two field goals within 10 minutes of resumption while captain Ritu Rani scored a hat-trick off penalty corners in a 11-minute span from the 57th minute in a match in which India held ball possession for close to 95 per cent of the time. Though Singapore packed its defence, India scored frequently, converting six of the 15 penalty corners it forced.

In another Group A match, China beat Sri Lanka 21-0 while Korea defeated Pakistan 19-0 in a Group B game.

A Hockey India Press release