India Women's Hockey Crushes Singapore 7-0 to Reach Semi-Finals
India's women's hockey team secured their fifth straight win at the Asian Games 2026 with a 7-0 victory over Singapore, setting up a semi-final against South Korea.
The Indian women’s hockey team continued their relentless march at the Asian Games 2026, delivering a clinical 7-0 demolition of Singapore on Sunday. This victory marks their fifth consecutive win in the tournament, ensuring they finish at the top of Pool B and securing a high-stakes semi-final clash against South Korea.
Despite the overcast and rainy conditions in Kakamigahara, Japan, the Indian side displayed immense composure and attacking prowess to dismantle a stubborn Singaporean defence that had initially attempted to frustrate them.
A Dominant Second Quarter Surge
The match began with India asserting total control over possession and territory. The pressure was immediate, with India earning a penalty corner in the very first minute. However, Singapore's goalkeeper, Felissa Lai, and a disciplined defensive line kept the scoreline level through a goalless opening quarter, despite India earning multiple penalty corners.
The deadlock finally broke in the 17th minute of the second quarter. After a rebound from a Navneet attempt, captain Salima Tete found a gap to slot the ball home, making it 1-0. Once the first goal landed, the floodgates opened:
- 22nd Minute: Sunelita Toppo doubled the lead from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
- 24th Minute: Sunelita struck again, deflecting a penalty corner flick from Deepika.
- 26th Minute: Deepika’s flick deflected off Lalremsiami to make it 4-0.
- 29th Minute: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal capitalized on a defensive lapse to lift the ball past the keeper for 5-0.
India’s clinical finishing turned a tight contest into a rout, heading into the halftime break with a commanding five-goal cushion.
Closing Out the Rout
While Singapore attempted to remain compact in the third quarter, India continued to hunt for more. Nikki Pradhan added a sixth goal in the 35th minute following another intense scramble in the circle. Although Singapore held firm for much of the third quarter, the Indian onslaught eventually resumed in the final period.
In the 55th minute, Deepika proved too clinical to stop, converting a penalty corner with a precise flick to complete the 7-0 scoreline. Singapore had one golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when Qian Xiao Kwek found herself one-on-one against India’s Bichu Devi, but her shot drifted wide, preserving the clean sheet for India.
The Road to the Gold
India’s journey through the pool stage has been nothing short of spectacular. They finish the stage with a massive goal difference of +63, having secured wins over Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. Their toughest test thus far was a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the hosts, Japan.
What's Next?
The momentum is firmly with the Indian side as they prepare for the knockout stages. India will face South Korea in the semi-finals on September 30, following the Koreans' 2-1 victory over Malaysia. The other semi-final will see China take on Japan.