The Indian women's hockey team continued its unbeaten run and defeated South Korea 3-0 in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Friday to enter the semifinals of the FIH Junior World Cup for only the second time. (More Hockey News)
The Indians, who toppe💧d the pool stage with an all-win record, scored through Mumtaz Khan (11♒th minute), Lalrindiki (15th) and Sangita Kumari (41st) to emerge winners in the quarterfinal match.
India's best result in the tournౠament remains the bronze medal finish at the 2013 edition in Monchengladbach, Germany, where they defeated England 3-2 in shootout following a 1-1 stalemate iไn regulation time.
Against Korea, India made a sedat��e start but found their footing 10 minuteౠs into the game.
The Indian players used their speed and defe🅰nce-splitting runs to trouble the Korean backline, which resulted in two penalty corners, the first of which was capitalised by Mumtaz.
It was Olympian Sharmila﷽ Devi's brilliant run and a resultant pass that created the short cornerꦡ for India and Mumtaz deflected home skipper Salima Tete's slap for her sixth goal of the tournament.
Seconds from the end of first quarter, Lalrindiki doubled India's lead by tapping in a rebound after Deepika's reverse shot was saved by Korean goalkeepꩵer Eu💜nji Kim.
The second quarter was more physical from both the teams but it was India who 𒅌dominatౠed possession.
The Indian defence was impressive in the first two quarters as the Koreans hardly tested goalkepeer Bichu Devi Kahribam, whose only involvement in the first 30 minutes was when she comfortably kicked away Korean skipper Seona Kim's miscued shot just be🍌fore half time.
South Africa eꩵarned their first penalty corner of the match after the change of ends, but Seona Kim's deflection went just over the bar.
Minutes later, I🐎ndia extended their lead through Sangita, who pushed home in an open goal after Korean goalkeeper Eunji Kim was thrown off balance by Beauty Dung Dung's miscued shot.
Despite enjoying a comfortable three-goal advantage, the Indians never let the momentum slip out of their hands ﷺand, instead, c🍰ontinued to press hard.
India will next face the winner of the other quarterfinal between three-time champ༺ions Netherlands and South Africa on Sunday.
