In their Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 match at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar, India secured a dominant 3-0 victory over the People’s Republic of China. The match saw goals from Sangita Kumari (32′), captain Salima Tete (37′), and Deepika (60′), with each player contributing to India’s commanding win. This result helped India ascend to the top of the tournament standings, accumulating 12 points from four matches, while China dropped to second place with nine points.
India started the match with a positive and aggressive approach, looking to capitalize on their early momentum. They dominated the opening 10 minutes of the first quarter, repeatedly threatening the Chinese defense. Deepika had two opportunities to score early, first from a penalty corner and then from open play, but China’s goalkeeper Li Ting made crucial saves to keep India from finding the back of the net.
As the game progressed, China settled into the match and began creating their own attacking opportunities. However, both teams struggled to break the deadlock during the first half, with the score remaining 0-0 at the interval. India’s defensive organization and strong pressing game helped them keep China at bay despite their increased attacking efforts.
The breakthrough for India came early in the second half when Sangita Kumari scored a well-executed team goal. She deflected a long ball from Sushila Chanu into the net, giving India a 1-0 lead. Shortly afterward, India doubled their advantage through captain Salima Tete. After narrowly missing a previous chance, Salima controlled a pass from Preeti and finished with a first-time shot to make it 2-0.
In the final stages of the match, China tried to mount a comeback by removing their goalkeeper in favor of an extra-field player, but India’s disciplined defense held firm. With time running out, India capitalized on this situation when Neha won a penalty corner, and Deepika converted it in the dying seconds to seal the 3-0 victory. The result ensured India’s qualification for the semi-finals, and they will next face Japan in their final league-stage match before the knockout rounds.
