Women's Hockey Asia Cup: India rout Kazakhstan 7-1, enter semis
India will now take on Japan in the second semi-final while China will play Korea in the first semi final on Friday.
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Kakamigahara, Japan: India stormed into the women`s Asia Cup semi-final here on Thursday, thrashing Kazakhstan 7-1 in the quarters at the Kakamigahara Kawasaki Stadium.
India will now take on Japan in the second semi-final while China will play Korea in the first semi-final on Friday.
After an early setback when Vera Domashneva scored a field goal in the second minute of the match to give Kazakhstan a 1-0 lead, India made amends when a tactical manoeuvre in the circle won them a penalty corner in the fourth minute.
In-form drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur hardly broke sweat to fiercely strike the ball past Kazakhstan keeper Guzal Bakhavaddin to equalise.
India were off to a steady start, patiently negotiating their way into the 25-yard mark not making hasty forays but waiting for the right opportunity.
The Ritu Rani-led forward line was smart in their attacks. The Indians won penalty corners to put their opponents under pressure.
The plan worked as a penalty corner won in the 16th minute was brilliantly converted through Deep Grace`s well-struck drag-flick to give India a 2-1 lead.
The following minutes saw Navneet Kaur score back-to-back field goals in the 22nd and 27th minutes to take India`s lead to a comfortable 4-1 at the end of second quarter.
The 10-minute halftime break saw the team come back stronger on the pitch. They began the third quarter by winning a penalty corner but this time it was well saved by the Kazakhstan goalkeeper.
However, another penalty corner awarded in the 41st minute was beautifully converted by Deep Grace (5-1). Gurjit was splendid in her drag-flick to convert her second goal through a penalty corner in the next minute to ensure India were on the right path to win.
The 22-year-old Gurjit struck yet through another penalty corner in the 56th minute to register her hat-trick and help India triumph 7-1.
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