India, China book semi-final berths in Women's Asia Cup hockey

Hong Kong, Sep 5 (UNI) Skipper Mamta Kharab led the charge firing five goals as India continued its machine-like goal scoring spree, mauling Singapore 16-0 to seal a semi-final berth in the sixth Women's Asia Cup hockey tournament here today.

China also booked a last four berth after registering a 15-0 wallopping over lowly Thailand.

India and China now have nine points each from three wins but India occupy the top standing in Pool A with better goal difference of two.

India had beaten Malaysia 6-0 and Thailand 16-0 before today's match while China had earlier accounted for Malaysia 7-1 and Singapore 15-0.

The two teams locked horns tomorrow to decide who tops the pool.

Mamta's five goals included a hat-trick while in-form striker Surinder Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur and Saba Anjum contributed three each to India's tally. Ritu Rani and Deepika Thakur sounded the board once each.

Displaying excellent stickwork and passing, the well-drilled Indians toyed with the lowly opponents and floodgates were opened once Mamta converted a penalty corner in the seventh minute to notch up the first of her five goals.

Mamta added two more to make it 3-0 by the 19th minute before five goals came in quick succession through four penalty corner conversions and a field goal to make the half time score 8-0 in favour of India.

India waited till the 41st minute to score the first goal of the second session through Saba Anjum. By the 68th minute India were 14-0 which meant level pegging with China in goal difference.

Jasjeet Kaur then scored a well taken field goal to keep the Indians ahead of China on goal difference.

Kaur scored again in the last minute to make the final score 16-0 in favour of India.

For tournament favourites China, Tang Chun Ling scored three. Gao Li Hua, Ma Yi Bo and Li Hong Xia contributed two each while Xiang Qian, Hung Jun Xia,Sun Zhen, Zhou Wan Feng, Bao Jing and Chen Qui Qi got one each.

China started the game with three very quick goals inside five minutes from Huang Jun Xia, Zhou wan Feng and Song Qing Ling in the first, third and fourth minutes respectively.

But to the credit of the Thais, they managed to steady the ship somewhat and produce some constructive hockey while not being able to seriously threaten the China goal even as China rolled on to a comfortable half time lead of 7-0.

China started the second half in the same mode with the eighth goal coming just three minutes after the resumption through a field goal netted by Tang Chun Ling.

That trend continued with goals coming at regular intervals and Li Hong Xia wrapping it up with a field goal virtually at the final whistle to round off China's tally.

UNI