India began their campaign at the Women's Asia Cup Hockey 2025 with a sensational 11-0 win over Thailand at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Hockey Field in Hangzhou, China on September 5, Friday. The two-time champions took control of the Pool B match from the opening whistle.
India Women's hockey team annihilates Thailand in Asia Cup opener
The scoring was led by Mumtaz Khan, Udita, and Beauty Dung Dung, who each netted two goals. Sangita Kumari, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Sharmila Devi, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal also contributed to the impressive scoreline.
India established their dominance early in the game. In the first quarter, Mumtaz Khan scored the opening goal in the seventh minute, followed by another field goal from Sangita Kumari in the tenth minute. The team's aggressive attack continued into the second quarter, where they scored three more goals. Navneet Kaur and Lalremsiami both scored back-to-back field goals in the 16th and 18th minutes, respectively. Just before halftime, Udita converted a penalty corner, giving India a commanding lead.
India's relentless offense continued into the second half, as they frequently pushed into Thailand's circle. Their aggressive play earned them four penalty corners in the third quarter, with Beauty Dung Dung converting the last one in the 45th minute for her first goal of the game.
The final quarter was a scoring frenzy for India, as they netted five goals to secure a dominant victory. Mumtaz Khan, Udita, and Sharmila Devi each scored from a penalty corner, while Beauty Dung Dung and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal contributed with field goals, putting the finishing touches on the impressive 11-0 win.
With title wins in 2004 and 2017, India has a strong history in the Women's Asia Cup. They secured a third-place finish in the 2022 edition after defeating China. Despite a few key players being sidelined by injuries, the team, led by coach Harendra Singh, is expected to continue its strong performance in the tournament.
Following their decisive victory, India's next challenge in the Women's Asia Cup Hockey 2025 is a match against three-time champions and current title holders, Japan, on September 6. On the same day, Thailand will face another formidable opponent, three-time winners South Korea, in an earlier match.The tournament features eight teams divided into two pools. Pool A consists of China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Chinese Taipei, while Pool B includes India, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Super 4s stage, which will determine the finalists. The remaining teams will compete in the classification round for fifth to eighth place.