Asian Games 2026: Deepika scores eight as India rout Uzbekistan 19-0 in Kakamigahara
India defeated Uzbekistan 19-0 in their Asian Games 2026 Pool B opener in Kakamigahara on Saturday, with penalty-corner specialist Deepika scoring eight goals and Ishika completing a hat-trick.
The match was played predominantly in Uzbekistan’s half as India produced an attacking performance from the outset, with eight different Indian players on the scoresheet. Deepika, noted in the report as a penalty-corner specialist, led the scoring while Ishika contributed three goals; Baljeet Kaur marked her 50th senior international appearance during the game.
India needed seven minutes to break the deadlock after sustained pressure, Lalremsiami finishing from open play in the 7th minute following an earlier Navneet Kaur attempt that struck the goalkeeper’s pads. Deepika added an open-play goal in the 8th minute, Ishika scored in the 11th minute and Baljeet Kaur made it 4-0 in the 12th minute, allowing India to carry a four-goal advantage into the first-quarter break.
The second quarter saw India extend their lead further: Neha scored in the 18th minute, Deepika converted a penalty corner in the 22nd minute for her second, Navneet Kaur scored in the 23rd minute and Deepika struck again from a penalty corner in the 25th minute to make it 8-0 at half-time.
After the interval Deepika dominated the scoring from set pieces, converting four successive penalty corners between the 33rd and 41st minutes to take her personal tally to seven. Ishika then scored her second in the 42nd minute, Lalthantluangi and Sakshi Rana both found the net in the 43rd minute, and Navneet Kaur completed her brace just before the third-quarter hooter to move the score to 16-0.
In the final quarter Lalthantluangi converted a penalty stroke in the 51st minute, Ishika completed her hat-trick in the 54th minute, and Deepika finished the scoring with her eighth goal — a field strike — also in the 54th minute, sealing the 19-0 result. The eight Indian scorers were Deepika, Ishika, Lalremsiami, Baljeet Kaur, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Lalthantluangi and Sakshi Rana.
The match also marked a personal milestone for goalkeeper Savita, who completed her 320th senior international appearance, drawing level with Vandana Katariya for the most caps by an Indian woman hockey player. India will next face Indonesia on Sunday, carrying the momentum of a dominant opening performance into their second Pool B fixture.