Muscat: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team emerged victorious in the inaugural Women’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup, a tournament that also served as the qualifying event for the Women’s Hockey 5s World Cup 2024. India secured their place in the global tournament by defeating Thailand with a resounding 7-2 scoreline in a thrilling final.
The final clash against Thailand was a spectacle, with the Indian team displaying a seamless blend of pace, precision, and teamwork. Mariana Kujur led the charge with two brilliant goals in the 2nd and 8th minutes, setting the tone for India’s dominance. Monika Dipi Toppo joined the scoring frenzy with a goal in the 7th minute, levelling the scores after Thailand had briefly taken the lead.
India didn’t stop there, as Mariana Kujur’s second goal in the 8th minute and Jyoti’s contribution in the 10th and 27th minutes further extended India’s lead. Captain Navjot Kaur added her name to the scoresheet with a goal in the 23rd minute, strengthening India’s grip on the game. With just three minutes remaining, Jyoti added another goal, making it 6-2 in favour of India. Mahima Choudhary put the finishing touches on the victory with a goal in the 29th minute, sealing a remarkable 7-2 triumph.
The first half saw India take an early lead through Mariana Kujur’s field goal (2′), but Thailand swiftly responded with goals from Kunjira Inpa (5′) and Sanpoung Kornkanok (5′). However, India’s spirited comeback, led by Monika Dipi Toppo and Mariana Kujur, saw them take a 4-2 lead into halftime.
In recognition of their exceptional achievement and outstanding performance, Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for each player of the winning team, along with Rs 1 lakh for the dedicated support staff.
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