7th Junior Women’s World Cup Hockey: India trounce Russia 10-1, reach quarterfinals

The confidence of the Indian eves soared after their hard-fought 2-0 victory over New Zealand in their second league tie of the 7^th Junior Women’s World Cup in Monchengladbach.

India did not look like the favourites going into the game against the Black Sticks given the fact that they were handed a 1-6 walloping by Australia, while New Zealand had hammered Russia 10-0 in their first league tie.

No wonder, it was a much assured display from India as they rode roughshod over Russia 10-1 to post their second consecutive win.

The win was sweeter as they made it to the quarterfinals after New Zealand, who needed a win to qualify at the expense of India, played out a 3-3 draw with Australia.

India wasted two penalty corners in the early stages but soon profited from the third as Vandana Katariya slammed home from close range – the goal happened to be the 100^th goal of the tournament.

With an extra spring in their strides after the opening goal, India upped the ante and soon the score line read 2-0 as it was again Vandana Katariya, who rattled the Russian cage in the 16^th minute.

Poonam Rani – one of the three survivors of the team that featured in the last World Cup at Boston in 2009 – got her name on the score sheet, racking up the third goal in the 21^st minute.

Trailing 0-3, Russia substituted their regular goal-tender Oga Chugunova with Viktoriia Alexandria in the 24^th minute.

The change of personnel in the Russian cage had little effect on the Indians as they pumped in one more goal in the 27^th minute through Poonam Rani – her second of the day.

There was more joy in the Indian camp as Vandana Katariya completed a superb hat-trick to make the score line 5-0.

Russia pulled one back before Rani Rampal fired the sixth goal. Rookie Madhya Pradesh girl Ritusha Arya got into the act notching up the seventh goal.

Rani Rampal got her second of the day when she breached the Russian defence in the 49^th minute for a commanding 8-0 lead.

The cup of woes of the Russians was full when they leaked in an own-goal in the 66^th minute. Russia managed a consolation late on but Manjit Kaur scored a short corner goal to fashion a 10-1 win.

Russia, who had a forgettable tournament, conceded 26 goals in three games.