India, China, Japan and Korea enter semis of AHF Junior Women Asia Cup

Battle lines have been drawn for the medal rounds of the AHF Junior Women Asia Cup Hockey Tournament. India, China, Korea and Japan have made the last four rounds.

In the concluding round of the league matches, pool leaders India and China recorded identical 11-0 wins over their opponents. While China defeated Hong Kong China for its fourth consecutive win from as many matches, India defeated Chinese Taipei for its third win in four games.

China, the only undefeated team in the tournament so far, has kept its slate clean to the extent that it has not conceded even a single goal till now.  China has scored 44 goals in four games.

Incidentally, the highest goal scorer team has been Japan. After recording an 8-0 win over Kazakhstan in its last game, Japan has taken its tally to 52 goals. The only goal it has conceded so far is one against China. Japan suffered only one defeat, 0-1 against China, in the pool matches.

Korea, the fourth qualifier for semis, defeated Malaysia 3-1 in its last game for its third win in four matches.

India won three of its four matches and drew one against Korea, India scored 37 goals and conceded three to stay ahead of Korea which also lodged 10 points from four games but scored fewer goals 23 and conceded 4 in pool games. Interestingly nine Indian players shared 11 goals the team scored against Chinese Taipei. Sunelita Toppo and Annu scored two goals each while PV Vithal, Deepika, RD Pisall, Neelam, C. Manju, Mumtaz and D Soerang scored one goal each.

India now plays Japan and China takes on Korea in the semi-finals.

Prabhjot Singh