Moki, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian junior women’s hockey team showcased its prowess by defeating Japan 7-0 in their third elite pool match of the 2026 Junior Asia Cup on September 8. This impressive victory ensured India’s place in the quarter-finals, maintaining their perfect record in the tournament with nine points from three matches.
India will face China in their final pool match on Wednesday, which will determine the top position in their group. China currently holds six points from two games.
Following a strong start that included a 4-1 win against Korea and an overwhelming 11-1 victory over Malaysia, India continued its aggressive play against Japan from the outset. The team quickly took control of the match, with Krishna Sharma scoring the first goal in the fifth minute to give India a 1-0 lead. A penalty stroke awarded in the ninth minute after a foul by a Japanese defender inside the circle allowed Supriya to double the lead, making it 2-0.
India maintained its dominance and scored a third goal just before the end of the first quarter. Purnima Yadav netted a field goal in the 14th minute, concluding the first quarter with a solid 3-0 advantage.
In the second quarter, Japan attempted to mount a comeback with a more aggressive approach, while India looked for opportunities to extend its lead. However, neither team scored, and India headed into halftime still leading 3-0.
The third quarter began with Japan trying to score its first goal, but the Indian defense held firm, thwarting their efforts. India then picked up the pace, scoring three goals in five minutes. Geeta Yadav scored a field goal in the 41st minute, increasing the score to 4-0, and added another goal in the 45th minute, solidifying India’s strong position.
Continuing their offensive, India scored again just a minute later when Purnima Yadav completed her brace in the 46th minute, extending the lead to 6-0 by the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter, India maintained its aggressive strategy, and in the 50th minute, Sanika Chandrakant Mane scored the seventh goal, sealing the match at 7-0.
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