HighLights
  1. Deepika scored eight goals.
  2. Ishika added a hat-trick, while Neha and Lalthantluangi scored twice.
  3. India, captained by Salima Tete, will next face Indonesia.

Deepika produced a sensational eight-goal performance as the Indian women’s hockey team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign in brilliant fashion, thrashing Uzbekistan 19-0 in their opening Pool B match on Sunday.

India dominated from the first whistle and left the Uzbek defence struggling to cope with the relentless attacks.

The gulf between the two sides was evident throughout the contest, with India controlling possession, creating chances at will and scoring regularly.

Deepika led the goal rush with an extraordinary eight-goal display, while several other Indian players also found the back of the net.

India, the second-highest ranked side in the competition, wasted little time in establishing complete control and had already built an 8-0 lead by half-time.

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India Run Riot In The First Half

Lalremsiami opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a close-range field goal before adding another a minute later to put India 2-0 ahead.

Deepika then began her remarkable afternoon, scoring in the eighth minute. Ishika extended India's advantage in the 11th minute with a brilliant first-time finish from the left of the circle after being set up by Sunelita Toppo.

Baljeet Kaur made it 4-0 in the 12th minute before Neha added another field goal six minutes later.

Deepika then converted a penalty corner in the 22nd minute with a powerful drag-flick into the bottom-right corner. Navneet Kaur joined the scoring in the 23rd minute before Deepika struck again from another penalty corner in the 25th minute.

India entered the interval with a commanding 8-0 advantage.

Deepika Completes Eight-Goal Haul

Uzbekistan's problems only intensified after the break as India continued to attack relentlessly. The Indian team added 11 more goals in the final two quarters, taking the final score to 19-0.

Deepika was at the centre of the goal glut, finding the net in the 33rd, 36th, 38th, 41st and 54th minutes to complete an astonishing eight-goal haul.

Ishika scored in the 42nd and 54th minutes, while Navneet added goals in the 45th minute. Lalthantluangi struck twice in the 43rd and 51st minutes, with Sakshi Rana also getting on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute.

The final scoreline reflected India's complete dominance as Uzbekistan struggled to retain possession and create any meaningful threat.

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Savita Punia Reaches 320 International Caps

The match was also special for veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, who made her 320th international appearance for India.

Savita joined Vandana Katariya as the joint-most capped Indian woman hockey player. However, the experienced goalkeeper had very little to do as India's dominance meant Uzbekistan rarely managed to threaten the Indian goal.

India will now turn their attention to their next Pool B fixture against Indonesia on Monday, looking to carry the momentum from their emphatic opening victory.


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