India battled past a dogged Japanese defense and an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Yu Kudo to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the semifinal of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy at the Rajgir Sports Complex on Monday.
The win sets up a final clash against China, while Japan will face Malaysia for third place.
Despite their experience and attacking prowess, the Indian team struggled to break through Japan’s compact defense and relied on a second-half penalty stroke to gain the upper hand. The match highlighted India’s inability to capitalize on penalty corners, with all 16 opportunities going unconverted.
From the opening whistle, Japan adopted a defensive approach, packing their players inside their 23-yard line to neutralize India’s relentless attacks. India dominated possession and created multiple chances, starting with a fifth-minute attempt from Deepika that went straight to Kudo.
Kudo, named Player of the Match, was instrumental in frustrating the Indian forwards, making several key saves. Reflecting on her performance, the Japanese goalkeeper, who idolizes Savita Punia and former England star Maddie Hinch, said, “India kept changing their penalty corner set-up every time with subtle variations. But we managed to read them and save, which makes me happy.”
Breaking the Deadlock
India’s breakthrough came in the 48th minute after Junon Kawai’s slight push on Deepika inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke. Navneet Kaur calmly converted the opportunity, giving India a much-needed lead.
Sunelita Toppo, who impressed with her runs and precise passing throughout the match, set up the second goal in the 56th minute. Her brilliant control and dribble along the backline allowed her to find Lalremsiami, who finished from close range to seal the win.
Japan, in contrast, managed only four circle entries and earned a single penalty corner in the 57th minute, which they failed to convert.
While India advanced to the final, head coach Harendra Singh acknowledged the team’s underwhelming performance, saying, “Kudo made the difference between just a win and half-a-dozen goals.”
India’s inability to convert penalty corners and capitalize on their dominant possession will need to be addressed if they hope to retain their title against a strong Chinese side.
In the other semifinal, China secured a 3-1 victory over Malaysia, riding on an early lead and resisting sustained pressure to book their spot in the final. Meanwhile, Korea claimed fifth place with a convincing 3-0 win over Thailand.
The much-anticipated final between India and China will take place on Tuesday, with both teams eager to lift the trophy.
