26 January,2024 03:49 PM IST | Muscat | mid-day online correspondent
India`s control of proceedings continued and Rutaja (22nd) scored her second goal of the match (Pic: @hockeyindia/X)
Rutaja Pisal scored four goals while Deepika Soreng struck thrice as India hammered New Zealand 11-1 to enter the semifinals of the FIH Women's Hockey5s World Cup.
New Zealand took the lead courtesy a goal from Oriwa Hepi (2nd minute) but India equalized within fifteen seconds as Deepika Soreng (2nd) found the back of the net with an astonishing finish.
Rutaja (9th) put India in the lead before Mumtaz Khan (10th, 11th) quickly fired back-to-back goals.
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The goalfest continued with India again scoring two more quick goals, this time from Mariana Kujur (13th, 14th) as the first half ended with India leading 6-1.
India's control of proceedings continued and Rutaja (22nd) scored her second goal of the match. Deepika (25th) also brought up her second goal before Rutaja (26th, 28th) added two more goals to her tally.
Deepika (29th) then scored another goal to complete her hat-trick as India won the game 11-1.
Earlier on Thursday, India stormed into the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup after thrashing Namibia 7-2. It was Indian team's third win in a row in Pool C. The Indians had earlier defeated Poland 5-4 before getting the better of USA 7-3 in their next match.
The Indians had Namibia on the backfoot within no time, scoring two goals into the game through vice-captain Mahima Choudhary (3rd minute). A minute later, Deepika Soreng doubled the lead. Namibia scored their first goal of the game early in the second half with Jivanka Kruger (18th) opening their account but India quickly retaliated as Mahima Choudhary (19th) scored her second goal.
Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (22nd) and Akshata Abaso Dhekale (23rd) added to India's tally within two minutes before Deepika (26th) scored her second goal as India led 6-1 with four minutes left on the clock.
Ajmina Kujur (28th) too scored for India before Anthea Coetzee (30th) found the net for Namibia for the second time but it wasn't enough.
India face South Africa in the FIH Women Hockey5s World Cup semi-final.
(With agency inputs)