India Dominates Thailand with a 20-1 Victory in Women's Hockey at Asian Games
India's Unstoppable Performance in Women's Hockey
Photo: IANS
Gifu, Sep 23: In a stunning display of skill, the Indian women's hockey team continued their impressive streak at the 2026 Asian Games, overwhelming Thailand with a score of 20-1 during their Pool B match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Wednesday.
This victory marks India's third consecutive win, solidifying their position at the top of the pool standings. They kicked off their campaign with a staggering 19-0 win against Uzbekistan, followed by a 17-1 triumph over Indonesia.
Deepika emerged as the star of the match, scoring an incredible nine goals, all from penalty corners, showcasing her exceptional drag-flicking abilities and exploiting Thailand's defensive weaknesses.
Navneet Kaur contributed four goals, while Rutuja Pisal netted a hat-trick. Other players, including Neha, Lalremsiami, Sakshi Rana, and captain Salima Tete, also added to the scoreline, maintaining relentless pressure throughout the game.
Thailand managed to score their only goal late in the fourth quarter, thanks to Supansa Samanso's drag-flick that deflected into the net from a penalty corner.
India's scoring spree has been remarkable, with Deepika, Rutuja, and Navneet each scoring hat-tricks against Indonesia in their previous match. Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami, and Sakshi also contributed with two goals each, while Ishika and Salima found the net as well.
Initially, India took some time to find their rhythm against Indonesia, but Deepika broke the deadlock in the eighth minute after a series of penalty corners.
Next, India will face Japan on Friday, where another strong performance could further enhance their chances ahead of the knockout rounds.
The team aims to surpass their bronze medal achievement from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and is in pursuit of their first gold in women's hockey at the Asian Games since 1982, when they won the inaugural title on home soil.
With three consecutive victories and a total of 56 goals scored in their opening matches, India has established itself as the frontrunner in Pool B, while their defense has remained robust, conceding only once against both Indonesia and Thailand.