Jaspreet, Rani score brace as Indian eves drub Thailand

India overcame a spirited Thailand to win their Pool A tie of Hockey World League round-2  6-0 on Tuesday. The eves were Throughly teswt by the lowest ranked team of the tournament before they could cement their place on the top of the pool.

Thailand, ranked 45th, had the hosts in a spot of bother with their spirited defence. But the way Indians failed to make their opportunities count was disappointing.  The Indians had planted themselves firmly in their opponent’s half only to be denied by their presence.

Their woes with penalty corners didn’t ease either. They earned 14 this day but could convert just two. India seemed to have scored in a flash when Vandana Katariya sounded the board but the goal was disallowed. It was a tough task for the Indian forwards and Amandeep Kaur, receiving a pass from Soun­darya Yendala from the right flank, opened the account for India only 5 minutes before the halftime. The eves returned galvanized in the second half.

Their ace dragflicker Jaspreet Kaur (38th minute, 60th minute) finally converted their 10th penalty corner when she tapped in off a rebound from goalkeeper Jesdaporn Tongsun.
The goal triggered a new life in the Indian and Rani (40th minute, 60th minute) increased the tally when she scored with a back flick following a goalmouth melee. Within five minutes, Vandana added her name to the list of scorers when she deflected in a long shot from Sunita Lakra in the left flank.

Rani and Jaspreet Kaur, converting another penalty corner, scored  individual braces at quick intervals  in the dying minutes to finish the match on a high. India will play winless Singapore in the quarterfinals.

DH News Service
Results: Malaysia: 5 (Silin Fazilla Sylvester 24th minute, 32nd, 45th, Rabiatul Mohamed 26th, Nurul Mansur 41st) bt Singapore: 0; Kazakhstan: 3(Natalya Gataulina 21st minute,28th, 38th) bt  Russia: 2(Margarita Drepenkina 38th, Kristina Shumilina 44th); Poland: 4(Magdalena Zagajska 6th minute,  Amelia Katerla 23rd, Oriana Walasek 48th, Paula Slawinska 60th) bt Ghana:0; India: 6(Amandeep Kaur 25th minute, Jaspreet Kaur 38th, 60th, Rani 40th, 60th, Vandana Katariya 45th) bt Thailand :0.