China women continue march

By S Thyagarajan

THE defending champion prevailed over Japan by three goals to one, netting all in the first session.
Adept and athletic, the Chinese played with palpable ardour and fluency. The lithe Zhao Yudiao, recently voted as the FIH Women's Young Player of the Year recently, displayed her proficiency in no uncertain manner, netting two, each one a beauty in the real sense of the term.
With 12 points from four games, and two remaining against South Korea and India, the home team appears well ensconced to finish on top in the seven team round robin league.
India a posted a 13-0 victory over Thailand and enhanced the hopes of making a bid to finishing on the podium.
Six points and a generous goal difference place India in a happy position to fight at least for a bronze. Surinder Kaur was the top scorer with four goals for the Indian team.
It turned out to be a great day for Malaysia. While the women’s team registered its first victory in five matches, the men outplayed and outclassed Oman to the tune of 12 goals, giving away two in the match.
The victory has certainly improved Malaysian men team’s chances of making it to the semi-final. But there is an important hurdle in the match. Malaysia is scheduled to take the host, China, in the last match.
Holder South Korea cast away the mood of depression after sharing points with Malaysia and gained a convincing victory over China in Pool A.
The results
Women: India 13 (Chanchan, Saba Anjum, Subadra Pradhan 2, Surinder Kaur 4, Poonam Rani, Rani Ramphal 3, Joydeep Kaur) beat Thailand 0. HT-7-0
China 3 (Zhao Yudiao 2, Gao Linhua) beat Japan 1 (Ai Murakami) HT 3-0
Malaysia 4 (Sumantri Norazilin 3),Abdul Rahman Nadia) beat Kazakhstan 2 (Yuliya Mikhechik, Anastassiya Chsherbakova) HT 1-0.
Men:
Pool A: Malaysia 12 (Muhammad Jalil Marhar, Tnuku Abdul Jalil, Rahim Amin 2, Muhammad Razie, Hanafi, Aslan Misron 3, Faisal Saari 2, Tajuddin Ahmed) beat Oman 2 (Al Shatri Hashim, Hawait Murshid) HT 7-0.
South Korea 3 (Jang Jonghyun 2, You Hyosik) beat China 1 (Song Yi) HT 3-1.
Saturday’s matches:
Women: Japan v Thailand; India v Kazakhstan; China v Korea.
Men: Pool B: Japan v Hong Kong; India v Pakistan.