India crush Singapore 10-0, enter semis of Women's Hockey World League

Vandana Katariya scored four goals, including a hat-trick as India continued its impressive run and spanked lowly Singapore 10-0 to storm into the semifinal of the Hero FIH Women’s World League Round 2 at New Delhi on Thursday. Vandana (17th minute, 48th, 56th, 57th) scored four field goals, while Poonam Rani (4th), Navjot Kaur (6th), Anupa Barla (19th), Deepika (32nd), Rani Rampal (35th) and Jaspreet Kaur (51st) also registered their names in the scoresheet to steamroll the hapless Singapore girls in the one-sided quarterfinal encounter at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. [caption id=“attachment_1622873” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo. AFP[/caption] In other quarterfinals of the day, Malaysia defeated Ghana 2-0, Thailand got the better of Kazakhstan 4-3 in a thrilling encounter, while Poland thrashed Russia 4-2. In the first quarter final of the day, Malaysia scored two goals through a penalty corner conversion by Norazlin Sumantri (3rd minute) and Hanis Onn (25th) to progress to the last four round. Later in the day, the Thai girls put up a spirited show to eke out a narrow win over Kazakhstan. For Thailand, Boonta Duangurai (10th), Kanyanut Nakpolkrung (21st), Tikhamporn Sakunpithak (41st) and Sirikwan Wongkeaw (47th) were the goal scorers while Kazakhstan’s goals came from the sticks of Natalya Sazontova (22nd), Vera Domashneva (26th) and Irina Dobrioglo (50th). In the third last eight match between Poland and Russia, the Polish girls raced to a 4-0 lead through goals from Oriana Walasek (6th), Natalia Wisniewska (27th), Marlena Rybacha (40th) and Magdalena Zagajska (49th) before Russia pulled two back from the sticks of Marina Fedorova (55th) and Kristina Shumilina (59th). While India will face Thailand in the first semifinal on Saturdaty, Poland will be up against Malaysia in the other last four round match. PTI