Asia Cup: India open campaign in style with 11-0 rout of Thailand

NEW DELHI: India made a resounding start to their women’s Asia Cup hockey campaign on Friday, crushing Thailand 11-0 in their Pool B opener. Udita Duhan and Beauty Dung Dung starred with two goals apiece, as the world No. 9 side showcased their dominance over the 30th-ranked Thais.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Udita converted penalty corners in the 30th and 52nd minutes, while Dung Dung struck in the 45th and 54th minutes. The other scorers included Mumtaz Khan (7’), Sangita Kumari (10’), Navneet Kaur (16’), Lalremsiami (18’), Thoudam Suman Devi (49’), Sharmila Devi (57’) and Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (60’).India were relentless from the outset, with Mumtaz and Sangita finding the net in the first quarter. The second quarter saw further pressure as Navneet and Lalremsiami scored field goals before Udita’s drag-flick just before half-time gave India a 5-0 lead.Thailand struggled to cope with India’s intensity, failing to earn a single penalty corner, while India converted five of the nine they were awarded. The third quarter brought more joy as Dung Dung slotted in from a PC, and the final period saw India pile on five goals, including a late strike from debutant Rutaja.Despite the absence of senior players Savita Punia and Deepika due to injuries, India looked sharp and aggressive under pressure, sending out a strong message to their rivals.The win gives India early momentum in Pool B, where they next face Japan on Saturday before concluding their league stage against Singapore on September 8. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the Super 4s, with the finalists booking a ticket to the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.