Vandana's four powers eves

India proved too good for lowly Singapore to enter the semifinals of World Hockey League round-2 with a facile 10-0 victory at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Thursday.

Facing a team ranked 43rd in the world, India had little to feel threatened during their 60 minutes outing. Barring a penalty corner which they earned in the second quarter, Singapore, the winless side in the event, could never assert themselves.

Unchallenged, India had a field day with their strikers scoring at regular intervals to keep the sparse crowd at the stands engaged.

Poonam Rani (4th minute), Navjot Kaur (6th), Vandana Katariya (17th, 48th, 56th, 57th), who top the list of goal scorers with 10 goals, Anupa Barla (19th), Deepika (32nd), Rani (35th) and Jaspreet Kaur(51st) also contributed to the imposing Indian scoreline.

The hosts, the highest ranked team in the tournament at 13th place, now plays Thailand in the semifinals. Thailand, who were beaten by India 6-0 during the league phase, sprung a surprise by edging past Kazakhstan 4-3 in the second quarterfinal of the day.
 
By half time, India had already found the back of the net four times. Poonam opened the Indian account in a flash off their first penalty corner. Jaspreet’s dragflick was well blocked by goalkeeper but India managed to keep the ball in the circle. Poonam tapped it in following a goalmouth skirmish.

Within two minutes, Navjot added to the number in a well stitched move. Rani’s backhand found the stick of the defender near the goaline but Navjot swiftly got to the rising ball and pushed it in.

Results:

Malaysia: 2 (Norazlin Sumantri 3rd minute, Hanis Onn 25th) bt Ghana: 0
Thailand: 4 (Boonta Duanguria 10th minute, Kanyanut Nakpolkrung 21st, Tikhamporn Sakunpithak 41st, Sirikwan Wongkeaw 47th) bt Kazakhstan: 3 (Natalya Sazontova 22nd, Vera Domashneva 26th, Irina Dobrioglo 50th).

Poland: 4 (Oriana Walasek 6th minute, Natalia Wisniewska 27th, Marlena Rybacha 40th, Magdalena Zagajska 49th) bt Russia: 2 (Marina Fedorova 55th, Kristina Shumilina 59th)
India: Poonam Rani (4th minute), Navjot Kaur (6th), Vandana Katariya (17th, 48th, 56th, 57th) Anupa Barla (19th), Deepika (32nd), Rani (35th), Jaspreet Kaur(51st)  bt Singapore: 0