India finishes with silver medal in 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup

India finished the 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup hockey championship with the silver medal – its best showing after four bronze medals – as they lost 2-5 to China in the final in Bangkok today.

Ritu Rani

File Photo: Ritu Rani

Taking the pitch with confidence against a team that had beaten it 2-5 in the Group A league, India played superbly to lead the Chinese 2-0 after 25 minutes when a 10-minute interruption because of rain hampered its rhythm.

Deep Grace Ekka scored off a seventh minute penalty stroke while skipper and midfielder Ritu Rani scored a field goal four minutes later. India had the better of the exchanges for another quarter-hour before a spell of rain forced play to be suspended. Continue reading

India to Face China in their 1st Final of Jr Women’s Asia Cup

Indian girls defeated Japan 2-1 through golden goal by the vice-captain of the team Poonam Rani to reach the final of the 6th Junior Asia Cup.  In their first ever final of Junior Women’s Asia Cup, India will meet China, who defeated Korea 3-2 in other semi-final.

Poonam Rani

File Photo: Poonam Rani

Indian vice-captain Poonam Rani, who came into tournament with 72 international caps, scored the golden goal in 9th minute of extra time to take India into final who also secured an entry in FIH Junior Women’s World Cup 2013.

Japan, the toppers of Pool B, took lead through Yuri Nagai’s field goal in 30th Minute of the game and went into lemon break with one goal advantages. India came out strongly in second period of the game and pressed hard to create some good moves around Japan’s D. Which helped India to find equalizer in 49th through a penalty corner goal by Vandana Katariya, who has more than 50 international appearances for India. Continue reading

India Vs Japan and Korea vs China in the Semis of Jr Asia Cup (Women’s)

After the results of Day 7 (last day of pool stage matches), the semi-finalists of 6th 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup are now known. Pool A leaders China will Korea placed 2nd in Pool B standings while Japan (Pool B Standings Toppers) will take on India (2nd in Pool A).

Asian Hockey Federation LogoEarlier on the last day of pool stage, India and Malaysia needed a win to reach semi finals, but India had to fight it out against a bold effort of Malaysia to win the match 2-1 from 0-1 deficit. It is Malaysia’s best outing against India in the competition. Apart from the win against Malay Girls India lost to China 2-5 and defeated Sri Lanka (16-0) and  Singapore (9-0) on the way to semi finals, while China won all of their pool games against Sri Lanka (21-0), Malaysia (3-0), India (5-2) and Singapore (6-0).

In Pool A, Japan and Korea are separated only by Goal Difference, as they drew their match against each other and defeated Thailand, Kazakhstan and Pakistan in the pool stage matches. Japan defeated Pakistan (17-0), Kazakhstan (24-0) and Thailand (6-0) and Korea won against them 19-0, 20-0 and 8-0 respectively.

Pool Standings (Detailed Schedule and Results Here): Continue reading

India go down 2-5 to China in the 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup Hockey Championship

India went down fighting 2?5 to China in their Group A league match of 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup Hockey Championship at Bangkok, Thailand today.

The goal scorers for India were Vandana Katariya (33rd minute) and Anupa Barla (57th minute) while Weijia Hao (11th and 24th minute), Na Wang (18th minute), Xiayun Xi (Penalty Corner 62nd minute) and Ailin Jiang (64th minute) scored for China. Continue reading

Ritu Rani scores hat-trick as India scores 9-0 victory over Singapore

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 vicecaptain Poonam Rani also scored three goals as the team followed up its 16-0 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. Continue reading

Ritu Rani will lead Team India at Junior Women Asia Cup, Thailand

India started their campaign in 6th Junior Women’s Asia Cup against Sri Lanka on June 27 and defeated them 16-0. India will then face Singapore, China and Malaysia in their group stage matches. (Detailed Schedule Here)

Ritu Rani

Ritu Rani

This tournament will be the qualifier for the FIH Junior Women World cup to be held in 2013. The 18 member squad will be lead by experienced midfielder Ritu Rani while forward Poonam Rani will be the Vice-Captain. India are the bronze medalists of last edition of Junior Women Asia Cup played at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2008. Continue reading