India eves in semis of Junior Asia Cup hockey

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 22: Preety Sunila Kiro of India and Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed of Malaysia contest the ball during the match between India and Malaysia on day three of the International Superseries at Perth Hockey Stadium on October 22, 2011 in Perth, Australia.)

Bangkok, July 3 – India rallied from a goal down to beat Malaysia 2-1 in its final league match here Tuesday and booked a semi-final berth in the Junior Women’s Asia Cup Hockey Championship.

With the win, India finished second in group A behind China.

In a must-win match for India, the teams played out a goal-less first half. Norazlin Sumantri scored for Malaysia within a minute of resumption but Anupa Barla (52nd minute) and skipper Ritu Rani (penalty corner 65th minute) ensured that India would make it to the last four stage.

Ten minutes after Malaysia took the lead, India started to dominate the proceedings and held sway in the last 25 minutes.

Anupa Barla’s strike capped a good pass by vice-captain and fellow forward Poonam Rani. Skipper Ritu Rani led India to victory when she converted a penalty corner.

Indian defenders toiled hard to keep Malaysia at bay as the side scored its third win in four matches – it had beaten Sri Lanka and Singapore in earlier games before losing to China.

India will face the winner of Group B – either Korea or Japan – in the semifinal to be played July 5.