MUSCAT: India outlasted Thailand challenge 5-4 in a crunch match to power into the semifinals by topping the Elite group of the Women’s Hockey5s Asia Cup in Salalah on Sunday.
India topped with nine points from three matches while Thailand also progressed to the semifinals with six points, courtesy of their two wins earlier.
Japan, who have three points, and Malaysia with no points in the Elite group will play the crossover matches against Challenger group teams next.
Japan are taking on Challenger group second-placed Indonesia while Malaysia are meeting Challenger toppers Hong Kong.
Earlier, favourites India, back after a 7-1 win against Japan, faced a stiff challenge from the in-form Thais.
At the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex, India raced to lead when Navjot Kaur struck at the start and Dipi Monika Toppo made it 2-0 in the first minute itself.
Anongnat Piresram pulled one back for Thailand in the third minute with a ‘challenge’ goal.
Dipi struck again in the seventh minute as India led 3-1.
Next few minutes saw Thailand girls come back through a brace from Natthakarn Aunjai as they made the scores level 3-3 at the break.
In the second-half, Thailand took the lead for the first time in the match with a goal from Suwapat Konthong 4-3.
The goal forced a flurry of moves from India as Mahima Choudhary equalised to make it 4-4. When it seemed the match was heading for a draw, Ajmina Kujur struck the winner for India in the final minute.
HONG KONG TOP GROUP
Earlier, Hong Kong topped the Challenger group with 15 points from 5 matches. Indonesia came second with 12 points.
Hong Kong beat Bangladesh 10-7 in their last group match, while Indonesia beat Chinese Taipei 6-3 in another match.
Hosts Oman lost all their matches in the group as they lost to Iran 4-1 in their last group match.
Bangladesh were third in the Challenger group with nine points from five matches and Chinese Taipei were fourth with six points.
Iran earned their first points with the win over Oman and took fifth spot while the hosts finished last with no points. Oman will face a repeat match against Iran in the play-off for 9/10 position.
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