Indian Women's Hockey Team Thrashes Uzbekistan in Asian Games Opener
Indian Women's Hockey Team Shines Against Uzbekistan
The Indian women's hockey squad kicked off their Asian Games 2026 journey with an impressive 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Forward Deepika emerged as the standout player, netting eight goals, five of which came from penalty corners. Ishika also showcased her skills by scoring a hat-trick, contributing to India's overwhelming performance.
Lalremsiami set the tone early, scoring in the sixth minute after a rebound from Navneet Kaur's saved shot. Deepika quickly followed with a powerful strike, doubling the lead, and Ishika added the third goal with a well-placed shot after a pass from Sunelita. Baljeet rounded off the first quarter with a fourth goal, converting a rebound.
In the second quarter, India maintained their offensive momentum, with Neha scoring a stunning reverse-hit goal to make it 5-0. Deepika then converted another penalty corner, followed by Rutuja's rebound finish, bringing the halftime score to 8-0 after Deepika completed her hat-trick.
The third quarter saw Deepika score four additional goals, all from penalty corners, raising her match total to seven. Ishika, Sakshi Rana, and Lalthantluangi also contributed to the score, pushing India's lead to 15-0.
In the final quarter, Navneet Kaur added another goal, while Deepika and Ishika completed their hat-tricks. Lalthantluangi and Neha each scored twice, with Lalremsiami, Baljeet, Sakshi Rana, and Navneet Kaur each contributing one goal. This commanding victory highlighted India's attacking prowess and effectiveness in penalty corners.
Table Tennis Team Achieves Convincing Victory
In another highlight, India's women's table tennis team secured a decisive 3-0 win against Indonesia in their Group F match. Players Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, and Yashaswini Ghorpade each won their matches, ensuring a smooth start for Team India.
India Clinches First Medal in Shooting
Additionally, India earned its first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, securing silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event. The team, consisting of Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod, achieved a total of 1898 points, finishing behind China. Elavenil Valarivan delivered an exceptional performance with 633.5 points and has qualified for the individual final, alongside Sonam Maskar.