Kakamigahara, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India women continued their dominant start to the Asian Games with a thumping 17-1 victory over Indonesia in their Pool B match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Monday.
Deepika, Rutuja Pisal and Navneet Kaur scored hat-tricks as India registered their second consecutive win after beginning their campaign with a 19-0 rout of Uzbekistan. The victory took India to six points from two matches, with a commanding goal difference of 35.
The 2023 Hangzhou bronze medallists made their intentions clear from the opening minutes, earning several penalty corners before Deepika converted one in the eighth minute. Sunelita Toppo doubled the advantage in the 11th minute, while Lalremsiami struck from another penalty corner two minutes later. Rutuja added India’s fourth goal in the final minute of the quarter.
India continued their relentless attacking display in the second quarter. Lalremsiami scored from open play in the 16th minute before Rutuja found the net again in the 20th. Sakshi Rana then made it 7-0 with a field goal in the 25th minute.
Deepika converted another set-piece opportunity, while Sunelita scored from a penalty corner with just 10 seconds remaining in the half to give India a 9-0 lead.
Indonesia managed to break through in the third quarter when Innes Adiyita scored after India had survived a couple of penalty corners. Salma Maulani’s attempts had been kept out before Indonesia finally opened its account.
India quickly restored their control, with Salima Tete scoring in the 34th minute. Despite temporary green-card suspensions for Ishika Chaudhary and Rutuja, India added four more goals through Navneet, Ishika, Rutuja and Deepika to take a 14-1 lead into the final quarter.
Navneet scored twice in the final 15 minutes, completing her hat-trick, while Sakshi also found the net as India sealed a comprehensive 17-1 victory.
The match also marked a historic milestone for former captain Savita Punia, who earned her 321st senior international cap to become India’s most-capped women’s player, moving past Vandana Katariya’s 320 appearances.
India will next face Thailand in their third Pool B match on Wednesday as they continue their campaign for the Asian Games gold medal.
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