Rani Rampal scores hat-trick in India’s 5-0 win over Thailand

After a barren and action-less first two quarters, the Indians got into the groove and scored five goals after the change of ends through Rani (37th, 46th and 56th minutes), Monika (52nd) and Navjot Kaur (55th) to register their fourth consecutive win. With an unbeaten record under its belt, the Indian women’s team finished on top of Pool B with 12 points from four wins ahead of defending champion South Korea, which it had defeated 4-1 in its penultimate pool encounter.

The first few minutes of the opening quarter saw Thailand maintain most of the possession but it was India which had an opening in the fifth minute when captain Rani’s reverse shot from the right flank went just wide of the goal post. India won its first penalty corner in the same minute, but the resulting try from Deep Grace Ekka was saved by a Thai defender. 

India got a couple of chances in the opening minutes of the second quarter as Rani took another shot which went wide, while Vandana Katariya was denied a shooting chance by Thai goalkeeper Alisa Narueangram, who was brilliant under the bar. Denied any goal by world number 28 Thailand in the first 30 minutes, the Indians came out all guns blazing in the third quarter and went on the offensive. Two minutes into the third quarter, India secured its third penalty corner but Gurjit Kaur’s drag flick was saved by Thai goalkeeper Alisa.

India’s consistent pressure bore fruit in the 37th minute when Rani scored from a rebound after Udita’s initial try was saved by Alisa. Thereafter, the Indians exerted constant pressure on their opponents and in the 46th minute, Rani once again found herself at the right place at the right time to stroke home from another rebound to double India’s lead. From there on, it was India all over as it attacked in numbers to catch the Thai defence off guard on three more occasions in the last 10 minutes of the game.